Road closure, flood affects devotees visiting Kukke

The number of devotees visiting Kukke Subrahmanya Temple has come won drastically with the closure of Shiradi and Sampaje Ghats connecting Dakshina Kannada with other districts of Karnataka.

The recent rain had marooned Kukke Subrahmanya region as the Kumaradhara river was in the brim. Even a few roads connecting the temple too had submerged in the water.

A large number of devotees visit the famous Kukke Subrahmanya Temple generally.

The vehicular movement on Shiradi Ghat connecting Mangaluru-Bengaluru, Bisile Ghat connecting Hassan-Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya-Sullia-Sampaje-Madikeri connecting Mysuru and Kerala have been suspended following landslides.

Even the train service between Bengaluru and Mangaluru has been suspended via Sakleshpur following the landslide on the track in the ghat between Subrahmanya Road and Yedakumeri. The stretches that connect the temple are Subrahmanya-Manjeshwara Road and Subrahmanya-Dharmasthala-Charmadi Ghat. The flood at Kerala too has forced the devotees not to travel to the Kukke Subrahmanya Temple.

The density of vehicles too has reduced at Kukke Subrahmanya. As a result, the devotees no longer have to wait in long queues to perform various pujas. The places inside the temple and outside the temple, the place where Ashlesha Bali, Shesha Seve, Nagaprathishte, Mahapuje and Panchamrutha Mahabhisheka are performed and at Adi Subrahmanya and Bathing Ghat at Kumaradhara look deserted.

Even the parking place looks empty.

On Tuesday, 47 Sarpasamskaras, 2 Tulabharas, 98 Ashlesha Balis, 15 Naga Prathishte, 11 Mahapuje, 53 Karthika Puje and 21 Mahabhisheka Puje were performed. The number of people offering various puja rituals has come down by 80%, according to the temple authorities. Even the shopkeepers have no business in the area.