Shivaratri: Thousands from Bengaluru take ‘padayatra’ to Dharmasthala

Thousands of devotees, taking out a padayatra from Bengaluru to Dharmasthala as part of Mahashivaratri, have started arriving in hordes to Hassan district. Mahashivaratri falls on March 11, this year.

Several batches of devotees entered Hirisave, the border of Hassan district, on Wednesday.

Hundreds of devotees from various layouts in Bengaluru have started padayatra from the last four days. Attired in saffron and wearing a mala, they walk 20 to 40 kms every day. Hundreds of devotees from Mandya and Tumakuru districts and also villagers from Hirisave hobli, joined them to walk to Dharmasthala.

The devotees, who arrive on national highway 75, are welcomed with panaka, buttermilk and even snacks across the stretch at Hirisave.

The devotees walked via Hirisave, Channarayapatna, Hassan, Belur, Kottegehara, Charmadi and would reach Dharmasthala by March 9 to have darshan of Manjunatha Swamy.