Lakhs to attend the jathra; preparations in full swing
Nanjangud: The preparations are in full swing for the Srikanteshwaraswamy’s Gauthama Panchamaharathotsava tomorrow (Mar.19) at this town popularly called the ‘Daskhina Kashi.’
In the light of the Jathra Mahotsava, all religious programmes had begun from Mar.12 itself. The Gauthama Ratharohana will begin tomorrow at Shuba Meena Lagna that occurs between 6.40 am and 7 am.
In the Rathotsava, the idols of Srikanteshwaraswamy, Ganapati, Sri Parvathi Amma, Subramanya and Chandikeshwara will be carried and drawn by the devotees in the Rathabeedi.
As lakhs of people are expected from different parts of the State, the District Administration, led by the DC Abhiram G. Sankar, called for a meeting of the people’s representatives and officials twice and fixed the responsibilities for the Departments concerned to carry out a smooth Rathotsava.
Flower decoration, illumination: The whole premises inside and outside the Temple is decorated with flowers and also illuminated. Likewise, the main streets of the town have been cleaned and lit up.
Chariots repaired: This time the back wheels of both the chariots (Rathas) of Srikanteshwaraswamy and Sri Parvathi Amma have been replaced with new wheels. Apart from this, the Peetha (seat) on Srikanteshwaraswamy Ratha has been renovated by the sculptors from Mudukuthore giving it a new look.
Tight security: Since lakhs of devotees are expected to attend the festival, the Police led by Dy.SP Vaidyanath including Inspector Shekar, SI Shivanna and Rural SI Puneeth have made tight security arrangements. CCTV cameras have been installed at the banks of River Kapila and in the Temple premises.
Permission must for prasadam distribution: In the wake of the Hanur taluk’s Sulawadi Maramma Temple poison incident, this time the District Administration has directed all voluntary organisations who want to distribute prasadams to the devotees to compulsorily take permission for which a Committee has been appointed. There were 150 applications from different organisations to distribute panaka and buttermilk. The permission has been granted with several rules that the distributors of prasadams have to follow.
Priority for basic amenities, security: Devotees will be arriving from different places a day before the jathra and hence drinking water facility has been made at five places including the Temple premises and the bathing ghat. A temporary health centre has been set up at the Temple premises and sheds built for the devotees to change clothes at the bathing place near River Kapila. As a precautionary measure, expert divers and boats have been stationed near the river. There are announcement points with loud speakers for those seeking information.
RP Road dazzling: The famous Rashtrapathi Road (RP Road), which links the major road to the Temple has been concretised at a cost of Rs.8 crore and thrown open to traffic which will add glitter to the smooth conduct of the festival. The whole road is now lit and is dazzling.
Transport arrangement: KSRTC has arranged extra buses for devotees coming from Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Mandya. Even the Railway Department has added extra bogies in Nanjangud-Chamarajanagar route for the convenience of passengers participating in the fest.
As the roads where the rathas pass, has been concretised in the past one year at a cost of Rs.9 crore, it will be easy for the devotees to draw the chariots, go round and return to the Temple smoothly.
The Temple’s Executive Officer Kumaraswamy and Assistant Executive Officer Gangaiah are leading the preparations.
We are anticipating a gathering of more than a lakh for the Srikanteshwaraswamy Jathra. Hence in the light of the security, additional Police forces from different parts of the districts have been drawn. More Police force will be deployed in the Temple premises, and the banks of River Kapila. While the chariots are being drawn, a security cordon will be thrown around the wheels to see that the devotees do not get near the wheels and get crushed. Since there will be large number of people attending, lot of precautions will be taken to see that the Jathra is incident-free. —Vaidyanath, Dy.SP
This post was published on March 18, 2019 6:53 pm