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

• ‘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.

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.