‘Ashada’ rituals atop Chamundi Hill: Devotees to be allowed after two years
News, Top Stories

‘Ashada’ rituals atop Chamundi Hill: Devotees to be allowed after two years

June 23, 2022
  • ‘Ashada Fridays’ fall on July 1, 8, 15 & 22
  • Two vaccine doses or negative RT-PCR report must
  • Bus facility will be arranged; private vehicles not allowed

Mysore/Mysuru: For the first time in more than 100 years, the famed Sri Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hill was closed for two years for devotees during ‘Ashada’ rituals and ‘Ashada Fridays’ in the backdrop of COVID-19 crisis. The devotees had been restricted during the weekends of the Ashada month in 2020 and 2021.

After two years of restrictions, the devotees are now allowed to visit Chamundeshwari Temple for the month-long Ashada pujas, especially on Fridays and Amavasya as it is considered as an auspicious ritual. It may be noted that the month of Ashada, under the Chandramana calendar, begins on June 30 and ends on July 28 this year.

Disclosing this at a press meet held at Government Guest House here, District Minister S.T. Somashekar said that devotees will be allowed entry to Chamundeshwari Temple on Ashada Fridays and during Amavasya from this year. “However, two doses of Covid-19 vaccination or negative RT-PCR report, not older than 72 hours, would be made mandatory for the devotees visiting the temple,” he said.

A final call will be taken at a meeting with respective officials and people’s representatives which will be held on June 25. The rules, regulations and guidelines will be issued to devotees later.

There will be four Ashada Fridays this time — July 1, 8, 15 and 22. Vardanthi Utsava of Goddess Chamundeshwari will be held on July 20 to which devotees throng the Hill temple in large numbers.

READ ALSO  Ugly graffiti mars beauty: Kerala CM tagged in social media posts

As in the past, the District Administration has restricted movement of private vehicles, by making arrangements of KSRTC city bus shuttles from the Lalitha Mahal helipad  to the Hill temple. Private vehicles may be parked at the parking lot in the helipad.

MP Pratap Simha, MLA S.A. Ramdas, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Bagadi Gautham, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr. B.S. Manjunathaswamy, ZP CEO B.R. Poornima, City Police Commissioner Dr. Chandragupta, DCP (Law & Order) Pradeep Gunti, DCP (Crime & Traffic) M.S. Geetha Prasanna, and other officials were present at the press meet.

ONE COMMENT ON THIS POST To “‘Ashada’ rituals atop Chamundi Hill: Devotees to be allowed after two years”

  1. Mann Ki Baat, Bisi Bele Baat! says:

    Although this temple was closed for ordinary devotees, it was open for minister and other VIPs. The temple administrator and the chief priest , made a lot of money by letting in the rich VIPs who gave them fist full of Rupees for the privilege of having darshan of the Goddess right in the Sanctum Sanctorum.
    The chief priest you see there in the photograph, who looks more like model for the priest dress than a real priest-he got this lucrative position through dynasty arrangement-his father was a chief priest and before him, his father too etc..(In India , when the BJP comments on Nehru dynasty-they keep quiet on Amit Shah dynasty, whose son is politically powerful person, Yediyurappa and his son etc..)
    This chief priest has become very rich, besides free housing, free food of prasadams taken home every day, subsidised water and electricity, he with the temple administrator charge those rich who can afford money for special darshans, and when this priest blesses the rich devotee right in front of the Goddess, his left hand is thrust with wads of Rupee notes by the devotee, with the Goddess watching, which this priest does not care , considering it as a mere idol!
    The chief priest and the temple administrator are looking forward for very lucrative days ahead!

ABOUT

Mysuru’s favorite and largest circulated English evening daily has kept the citizens of Mysuru informed and entertained since 1978. Over the past 45 years, Star of Mysore has been the newspaper that Mysureans reach for every evening to know about the happenings in Mysuru city. The newspaper has feature rich articles and dedicated pages targeted at readers across the demographic spectrum of Mysuru city. With a readership of over 2,50,000 Star of Mysore has been the best connection between it’s readers and their leaders; between advertisers and customers; between Mysuru and Mysureans.

CONTACT

Academy News Papers Private Limited, Publishers, Star of Mysore & Mysuru Mithra, 15-C, Industrial ‘A’ Layout, Bannimantap, Mysuru-570015. Phone no. – 0821 249 6520

To advertise on Star of Mysore, email us at

Online Edition: [email protected]
Print Editon: [email protected]
For News/Press Release: [email protected]