Nanjangud: As part of Girija Kalyana Mahotsava, special pujas, Dhara Mahotsava, Kashiyatra and other rituals were performed to the deities at the famous Srikanteshwara Swamy Temple in Nanjangud on Sunday.

The deities — Lord Srikanteshwara Swamy and Goddess Parvathidevi — were specially decorated lending more colour to the illuminated Temple, which was bedecked with flowers.

The rituals began with Mahaganapati Puja at 9 am performed by a team of Priests led by J. Nagachandra Dikshith. Later, Ganga Puja was performed at the Kapila Bathing Ghat.

In the evening, many rituals such as Nandi Graha Yajna, Purasana and Navagraha Homa were performed.

As part of Kashiyatra, the ‘Utsava Murthy’ of the deity was taken in a procession around the Temple, even as it drizzled.

The procession was accompanied by a Vadya Goshti team and various folk troupes, watched by thousands of devotees who had thronged the Temple for the special occasion.

The idol was brought back to the Temple and was decorated with ‘Ganda Bherunda’ donated by the erstwhile Mysore Maharajas, diamond jewellery gifted by Tipu Sultan and the golden necklace gifted                                                           by Srigeri Mutt.

Later in the evening, Lord Srikanteshwara Swamy idol was kept in Kalyana Mantapa and Goddess Parvathi in Vasantha Mantapa and pujas were performed.

The rituals ended in the night with the performance of Raja Homa, Pradhana Homa, Saptapadi, Arundhati Puja and other Pujas. There was mass feeding in the night at the Temple                       Dasoha Bhavan.

The Temple Management Committee President K.N. Shivananjaiah, Members R. Indan Babu, N.T. Girish, Puttaningashetty, Manjula Madhu, Sashirekha, Sridhar, Madesh, AEO Gangaiah and others were present during the occasion.