First Ashada Friday: Over one lakh devotees visit Chamundi Hill

Mysuru: Neither the long wait, up to six hours, nor the rush inside the temple deterred the spirits of over a lakh devotees, who thronged Chamundi Hill in Mysuru to have darshan of Goddess Sri Chamundeshwari Devi. The deity wore a red saree in Lakshmi Alankaara on the occasion of first Friday of Ashada month of the Hindu calendar.

The temple was decorated for the celebrations with colourful chrysanthymum flowers.

"Special puja, including Mahaanyasaka Poorvaka Rudrabhisheka, and Panchamrutha Abhisheka, were offered to the Goddess from as early as 3.30 am to 5.30 am. The devotees were allowed to have darshana from 5.30 am to 10 pm," temple chief priest N Shashishekara Dixith said.

Like every year, while the entry of private vehicles to the hill was banned, a large number of vehicles were seen parked on the ground near the Lalitha Mahal Palace. The tickets for darshana were sold at the parking area itself and the devotees were segregated and streamlined in separate free buses of the KSRTC. Hence, the chaos at the hill was slightly minimised.

Utsava murthy of Goddess Sri Chamundeshwari Devi.

According to KSRTC urban DC H T Veeresh, 45 buses were arranged from the city bus stand. "They made 160 trips up to 5 pm. 45 free buses were arranged, including for men, from the ground near Lalitha Mahal Palace. They also made 160 trips. Those who bought Rs 2,000 tickets were taken in eight Volvo buses, which made 58 trips. For those who bought Rs 300 tickets, 25 buses made 91 trips."

For those in the general darshana queue, it took at least six hours, while for those with Rs 300 ticket, it took about three hours. There was chaos at the edge as the queues merged with those who came in the general queue near the temple. For those with Rs 2,000 ticket, it took about half an hour to have darshan.

Shashikala from Yaraganahalli said, "Although I rushed near the steps at 2 am, we were allowed to climb only from 3 am. I managed to have darshan only by 11.45 am."

Shobha from Alanahalli said, "We stood in a general queue from 6 am and had darshan only by 1.30 pm."

The District Administration, led by DC G Lakshmikanth Reddy, and Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority Secretary M J Roopa had made elaborate arrangements for the darshana, with barricaded queues.

More than 1,000 police personnel, led by Commissioner Seema Latkar, DCPs M Mutthuraj and K S Sunderraj, two SPs, more than 300 home guards, more than 300 volunteers, including Scouts, Guides, NSS, and NCC cadets managed the devotees. The Health department had arranged ambulances. Drinking water and toilet facilities were also available. 

Roopa said, "By 5 pm, more than 80,000 kumkum packets, 1,200 litre of badam milk, 50,000 packs of dry fruits and madilakki were distributed. For those with Rs 2,000 ticket, a statue, one laddu prasada, 500 ml glass water bottle and a bag was provided. While prasada was arranged for the first time by the temple authority, more than 50,000 devotees were served with peas pulav and curd rice."

Admitting that chaos prevailed for the darshana, Roopa said, "We will streamline the queues by next Friday."

According to temple chief priest, it is auspicious to worship 'Shakthi Devatha' in Aashada maasa. "It is believed that by worshipping Sri Chamundeshwari Devi during Aashada month, one would reap the blessings equivalent to worshipping the Goddess for the entire year," he said.

VIPs like MLAs G T Devegowda, P M Narendraswamy, H D Revanna and his son and MLC Suraj Revanna visited the temple.