Procession, temple lunch at Bhoganandishwara today

The procession of the chariot belonging to the Bhoganandishwara temple of Nandi village in Chikkaballapur taluk will be organised on February 21.

The Bhoganandishwara Swamy Devotees’ Association of Doddaballapura is preparing for the big event.

Famous as Southern Kashi, the Association will also organise Anna Dasoha or feeding of the thousands of devotees who visit the temple. The event has been continuing for several years now- just one year short of a century.

The Anna Dasoha was first started in 1913 by the family of Bommanna, a resident of Doddaballapur. Initially an event organised by joint families, it has been taken over by an organisation after the single family system took over.

Members of the Association begin one month in advance to collect money from devotees for the procession and the lunch. Most residents of nearby villages donate generously.

The Dasoha was organised on the premises of the temple, just outside the main building.

The Archaeological Survey of India took over the area about a decade ago and converted into a park. Since then, the programme is organised on the campus of Govinda Theertha College, said G Nanjunda Murthy, office-bearer in the Association.

“About 10 of us spend an entire month collecting funds from the people for it. We need about two quintals of rice, 25 kg tur dal, 30 kg jaggery and 10 kg green gram for the event. We also give water and buttermilk to the thousands of devotees who have lunch at the temple after participating in the procession. The total expenditure is Rs 30-35 thousand necessarily,” he explained.

C P Rajashekhar, another office-bearer, said, “A few years ago, the temple faced lack of people to lead the Association. We served only gram rasam and ragi balls. But the convention of feeding the devotees who visit the temple has never stopped.”

Floral Shivalinga

The preparations for the chariot procession too are carried out with enthusiasm. The Muzrai Department, temple staff and residents of Nandi have decided to organise the programme in a different way as compared to previous chariot processions.

“For the first time, a Shivalinga was set up using petals, and leaves. The Shivalinga is about five feet tall,” Monar, resident of Andarlahalli in the taluk, told Deccan Herald.

The flowers were brought from residents’ fields as well as purchased from markets. “We hope to attract the devotees who visit the temple,” he added.

Flower shower

Shivaratri was celebrated with pomp and gaiety at the Kotilinga Temple at Kammasandra in Kolar Gold Fields on Monday.

A flood of people started gathering on the premises of the temple right from dawn. Devotees from even neighbouring states, who drove down to the temple, stood in the queue for a view of the deity.

The procession of the chariot at the temple was conducted on Monday morning.

Flowers were showered on top of the 108-feet tall Shivalinga using helicopters, much to the excitement of the thousands of devotees who had gathered around the idol.

Union minister K H Muniyappa, former minister Sriramulu, legislators Y Sampangi and M Narayanaswamy, BEML managing director V R S Natarajan, BGML security officer Srinivas and others were present during the occasion.

Cultural and religious programmes were organised all through the day as part of Shivaratri festivities.