<p>Chikkamagaluru: Braving scorching sun, burning asphalt road, and blisters on their feet, hundreds of devotees from across Karnataka including Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru, Ballari, Bengaluru, Hosakote, Gangavati, Shivamogga, and Chitradurga are heading towards Dharmasthala for Maha Shivarathri. </p><p>Moving cautiously amid vehicles, these devotees on their way to Dharmasthala on foot, include youngsters, elderly people, and even differently-abled. While some carry their children throughout their journey, many others balance their bags on their heads.</p><p>Yet one thing that keeps them going is their unmatched enthusiasm and devotion.</p><p>Beginning from different routes from their native towns and villages, the pilgrims eventually merge near Mudigere and proceed together through the Charmadi Ghat. As a result, the ghat roads have filled with devotees in saffron shawls.</p><p><strong>Surge over weekend</strong></p><p>Maha Shivaratri will be celebrated on February 26 (Wednesday) this time and with just a couple of days left, devotees are eager to reach Dharmasthala by Monday or Tuesday. As a result, the number of pilgrims surged over the weekend. As per an estimate by localites, at least 50,000 people crossed Kottigehara on Saturday and Sunday.</p><p><strong>No barricades, no police</strong></p><p>However, one major concern of these devotees is their safety on the road. Except for a check post with standard barricades at Mudigere, neither a single barricade has been placed nor police personnel are in sight from Mudigere Handpost to the Chikkamagaluru district border through Charmadi Ghat.</p><p>Another challenge is walking amid heavy traffic. Being a national highway, the route is always busy and the traffic doubles over the weekends further increasing the risks for pedestrians.</p><p>“Every year, lakhs of devotees undertake this pilgrimage ahead of Maha Shivarathri. Apart from the free food and hospitality offered by donors, the government has failed to provide any basic amenities for the devotees. Also, no safety measures are ensured leaving the devotees in a risky mode,” complained pilgrims.</p><p><strong>‘No corrective measures’</strong></p><p>Social activist Sanjay Gowda from Kottigehara said two pedestrians lost their lives after being hit by a bus in Hassan. However, neither the police nor the district administration has taken corrective action.</p><p>While local people offer food, snacks, water, buttermilk, and tender coconut to devotees at various points, groups of devotees from Bengaluru, Ballari, Tumakuru, and Mysuru prepare and serve food for the pilgrims.</p><p>A big resting facility for devotees has been set up at the coffee curing premises near Mudigere by a Mudigere-based organisation. Along with food arrangements, medical check-ups are also being provided.</p><p><strong>Lack of sanitation facility</strong></p><p>Volunteers from the Saddhiksha Charitable Trust are applying pain-relief oil and massaging the feet of pilgrims. The Health Department has deployed doctors, and the local gram panchayat has arranged toilet and water facilities at this location. Yet, open defecation remains a serious issue along the Charmadi Ghat stretch with women being forced to relieve themselves in the open due to the lack of proper sanitation facilities.</p>
<p>Chikkamagaluru: Braving scorching sun, burning asphalt road, and blisters on their feet, hundreds of devotees from across Karnataka including Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru, Ballari, Bengaluru, Hosakote, Gangavati, Shivamogga, and Chitradurga are heading towards Dharmasthala for Maha Shivarathri. </p><p>Moving cautiously amid vehicles, these devotees on their way to Dharmasthala on foot, include youngsters, elderly people, and even differently-abled. While some carry their children throughout their journey, many others balance their bags on their heads.</p><p>Yet one thing that keeps them going is their unmatched enthusiasm and devotion.</p><p>Beginning from different routes from their native towns and villages, the pilgrims eventually merge near Mudigere and proceed together through the Charmadi Ghat. As a result, the ghat roads have filled with devotees in saffron shawls.</p><p><strong>Surge over weekend</strong></p><p>Maha Shivaratri will be celebrated on February 26 (Wednesday) this time and with just a couple of days left, devotees are eager to reach Dharmasthala by Monday or Tuesday. As a result, the number of pilgrims surged over the weekend. As per an estimate by localites, at least 50,000 people crossed Kottigehara on Saturday and Sunday.</p><p><strong>No barricades, no police</strong></p><p>However, one major concern of these devotees is their safety on the road. Except for a check post with standard barricades at Mudigere, neither a single barricade has been placed nor police personnel are in sight from Mudigere Handpost to the Chikkamagaluru district border through Charmadi Ghat.</p><p>Another challenge is walking amid heavy traffic. Being a national highway, the route is always busy and the traffic doubles over the weekends further increasing the risks for pedestrians.</p><p>“Every year, lakhs of devotees undertake this pilgrimage ahead of Maha Shivarathri. Apart from the free food and hospitality offered by donors, the government has failed to provide any basic amenities for the devotees. Also, no safety measures are ensured leaving the devotees in a risky mode,” complained pilgrims.</p><p><strong>‘No corrective measures’</strong></p><p>Social activist Sanjay Gowda from Kottigehara said two pedestrians lost their lives after being hit by a bus in Hassan. However, neither the police nor the district administration has taken corrective action.</p><p>While local people offer food, snacks, water, buttermilk, and tender coconut to devotees at various points, groups of devotees from Bengaluru, Ballari, Tumakuru, and Mysuru prepare and serve food for the pilgrims.</p><p>A big resting facility for devotees has been set up at the coffee curing premises near Mudigere by a Mudigere-based organisation. Along with food arrangements, medical check-ups are also being provided.</p><p><strong>Lack of sanitation facility</strong></p><p>Volunteers from the Saddhiksha Charitable Trust are applying pain-relief oil and massaging the feet of pilgrims. The Health Department has deployed doctors, and the local gram panchayat has arranged toilet and water facilities at this location. Yet, open defecation remains a serious issue along the Charmadi Ghat stretch with women being forced to relieve themselves in the open due to the lack of proper sanitation facilities.</p>