Srirangapatna: Thousands of ‘Hanuman Maaladhaaris’ participated in a grand Sankirthan Yatra yesterday as part of Hanuman Jayanthi celebrations at Srirangapatna, showcasing devotion and enthusiasm across the town.

The event commenced at the Anjaneya Swamy Temple, located on the banks of the River Cauvery on the town’s outskirts. Hindu leader Manohar Mathad performed a special puja and offered floral tributes to Anjaneya Swamy before flagging off the Sankirthan Yatra procession.

The ‘Hanuman Maaladhaaris’ chanting “Jai Sri Ram” and “Bajrang Bali,” waved saffron flags and sang bhajans and kirtans as they proceeded from the temple to the historic Moodalabagilu Anjaneya Swamy Temple.

The route included Summer Palace, the Mysuru-Bengaluru National Highway and the old fort gate, culminating at the temple by noon. Many children and participants dressed as Sri Ram, Lakshman and Hanuman, added colour to the procession.

The Sankirthan Yatra witnessed the participation of thousands of Hanuman devotees from Mandya, Ramanagara, Mysuru, Maddur, Pandavapura, Nagamangala, K.R. Pet, and nearby villages.

After completing religious rituals, the ‘Hanuman Maaladhaaris’ ceremoniously offered their malas at the Moodalabagilu Anjaneya Swamy Temple. Devotees, committee heads and members from across the district were present, marking the event as a significant spiritual gathering.

Tight security measures

To manage the large influx of devotees, Srirangapatna Police implemented stringent security measures to ensure the event proceeded without incident. The security team included one Deputy Inspector General of Police, three Superintendents of Police, three Additional SPs, 20 Dy.SPs, 1,708 Policemen, eight District Armed Reserve platoons, five Quick Response Teams, nine Karnataka State Reserve Police platoons and 300 Home Guards.  Enhanced measures were taken near Tipu Mosque, where strict security was enforced. Drone cameras and CCTV systems were installed at key locations to maintain vigilance.

At the Municipal Circle near the Mosque, ‘Hanuman Maaladhaaris’ performed a puja, broke coconuts, lit camphor and sat on the road chanting bhajans dedicated to Lord Ram and Anjaneya Swamy.

When the Yatra reached the Municipal Circle, some participants shouted slogans. Police officers intervened and urged the group to continue on the main road. This led to a verbal altercation and minor scuffles between the devotees and the Police.