Nanjangud: Braving continuous drizzle, hundreds of devotees thronged the famed Srikanteshwara temple in the town on the first KarthikaMaasa Monday on Nov.16  and offered special prayers to the deity.

The temple, which was shut for devotees in March this year following the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19, was opened with certain restrictions  a couple of months ago following relaxation in lockdown regulations. However, on the first Karthika Monday, the doors of the temple was fully opened with all usual temple sevas. 

The devotees, who were delighted with the re-opening of the temple on a full scale after a gap of eight months, sought the blessings of the deity. The temple priests performed Abhishekas and all other associated rituals.

The devotees from different parts of the State who began to arrive in the temple town right from early morning, took a holy dip in Kapilariver that flows through the town and lined up at the temple for darshan of the deity. Several devotees were seen performing Sandhya Vandane, Mudiseve, Uruluseve.