Madikeri: Thousands of devotees gathered at Talacauvery in Kodagu district last night to witness the annual Cauvery Theerthodbhava, amid the chanting of mantras and the performance of religious rituals. The sacred moment occurred at 7.50 pm in Mesha Lagna at the Brahma Kundike, regarded as the source of River Cauvery, at the foothills of the Brahmagiri range. 

As the holy water emerged from the Kundike, devotees raised slogans of “Govinda”, “Mother Cauvery”, “Jai Cauvery”, “Jai Jai Mata Kaveri Mata” and “Cauvery Mathe Ukki Baa”. 

The traditional Kodava Dudikot Paatt was performed in praise of the Goddess, while the sounds of mantras and the traditional Kodava valaga added to the religious fervour.  

A team of Priests, led by Chief Priest Prashant Achar, performed rituals at the Kundike and offered aarti to the deity.  

The sacred water was first taken to Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple at Bhagamandala for Abhisheka, while Priests sprinkled the holy water on devotees gathered at Talacauvery. 

Barricades were erected around the holy pond and the ‘Kundike’ to regulate the crowds, with Police personnel deployed to ensure safety. Pilgrims from Kodagu, Mysuru, Hassan, Mandya, Maddur and Bengaluru, as well as neighbouring Kerala and Tamil Nadu, thronged the shrine to witness the annual event. At Triveni Sangama in Bhagamandala, many devotees performed traditional rites, including pinda pradhana & kesh mundana.  

KSRTC buses ferried pilgrims to the sacred sites, while the ‘Kodagu Ekikarana Ranga’ began its annual month-long annadana programme. Large LED screens were installed to telecast the rituals live for devotees. 

District Minister P.M. Narendraswamy, MLAs Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna and Dr. Manthar Gowda, DC S.G. Somashekar, SP R.N. Bindu Mani, Bhagamandala ‘Thakka Mukhyastha’ Balladka Appaji, Talacauvery ‘Thakka Mukhyastha’ Kodi Motaiah, Kodava Sahitya Academy President Ajjinikanda Mahesh Nachaiah and Bhagamandala Temple Managing Committee President Bananda Prithyu were present.