Chamarajanagar: The District Administration has cancelled the annual Chamarajeshwara Rathotsava this year. This is for the first time in 179 years that the annual fair had been cancelled. The officials have sighted the inability to build a new chariot within a short time and also pending renovation works of the temple to be the reason for cancelling this year’s annual Jathra Mahotsava. A decision in this regard was announced by Deputy Commissioner B. Ramu at a meeting with district-level officers yesterday.

The Rathotsava, which is held in a grand manner every year during the month of Ashada, was to be held on July 9 this year. But a miscreant set the chariot of fire in the month of February this year which damaged its few portions.

DC Ramu took the decision to cancel the annual Rathotsava as the other officials were for the idea of repairing the old chariot and taking it out on a procession. Few also expressed their disappointment for cancelling the annual fair stating that it was not good for the city.

While some expressed that a renovation of temple’s ‘Rajagopura’ was underway the main deity should not be taken out on a procession as per the tradition.

MLA C. Puttarangashetty, ADC K.M. Gayathri, Temple Priest Nagaraja Dixit, Tahsildar Purandara and others were present.

The District Administration also decided to seek financial help from philanthropists for building a new chariot which is estimated to cost Rs. 1.17 crore and the temple is being renovated at a cost of Rs. 2.10 crore.