Shiva temples gear up for Maha Shivaratri today

Shiva temples across Mysuru region have geared up for Maha Shivaratri, scheduled to be celebrated on March 11 (Thursday). The temples have been spruced up, decorated with flowers and buntings with arrangements for devotees to have darshan of the deities.

As lakhs of people visit the popular pilgrim centre Male Mahadeshwara Hill in Hanur, Chamarajanagar district, for Mahashivaratri Jatra, the MM Hill Temple Development Authority and Chamarajanagar district administration have banned the entry of devotees from other districts. Permission is only for locals, to be a part of the festival, as a precautionary measure, in the wake of the Covid crisis.

Devotees observe fasting and meditation, visit temples, chant prayers on the day. The golden mask of Trineshwara Swamy temple was brought out from the District Treasury, amid police security, on Wednesday morning. The mask (kolaga), weighing 11 kg was handed over to the temple authorities of Trineshwara Swami temple on the Mysuru Palace premises, by the district administration.

Special pujas and other rituals will be held from 5 am at the temple. It will be open for devotees till 12 midnight. According to sources, all Palace gates will be open till midnight, for the devotees. However, the devotees are asked to strictly follow Covid norms.

Besides, Chandramouleshwara Swamy temple at Matrumandali Circle in VV Mohalla, Mahadeshwara temple on Valmiki Road, Gurukula temple, which has 101 shivalingas on Ramanuja Road, Kamakameshwari temple, Amruteshwara temple and others have been spruced up. All temples have been illuminated for the occasion. The police have made security arrangements at popular temples, by placing barricades.

Suttur Mutt has also organised special programmes for Maha Shivaratri. Cultural programmes have been organised at Gadduge all night at Suttur in Nanjangud taluk.

All Shiva temples in Hassan, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts too have geared up for the occasion.