Mysuru; Thousands of devotees thronged the Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hill this morning to pay their obeisance to the deity on the last day of the three-day Kumbhabhisheka, marking the renovation of Rajagopura, Vimana Gopura and Dhwaja Sthambha of  the hill temple.

About 70 sculptors and other skilled workers from Tamil Nadu had been working on the renovation (jeernodhara) over the past 18 months, which is done once in twelve years. This time, TVS factory in Nanjangud had sponsored the renovation.

While the Rajagopura is about 115 ft. tall, the Vimana Gopura is 45 ft. tall and the Dhwaja Sthambha nearly 30 ft. in height.

With the Kumbhabhisheka taking place in the auspicious Simha Lagna between 9.55 am and 10.10 am, the temple was closed for the devotees from 9.30 am to 11 am.

Long queues were seen atop the temple, as devotees waited patiently for their turn to  offer prayers to the deity on the special occasion.

The temple Chief Priest N. Shashishekar Dikshit, Executive Officer K.M. Prasad, Muzrai Tahsildar Yathiraj Sampath Kumaran, Temple  Management Committee President D. Kalaiah, Trustees Mahesh, Shivalingaiah, V.C. Kumari, Shashikala, Sakanna, Uttanahalli Shivanna and others were present.

The three-day Kumbhabhisheka rituals had commenced on Saturday evening (June 23) with Aalaya pravesha