Nanjangud:  The Annual Srikanteshwaraswamy Pancha Maha Rathotsava, commonly called as ‘Dodda Jathre’ will be held on March 19 at Nanjangud.

Chairing the preliminary meeting recently at the Dasoha Bhavan  in the temple town to discuss the preparations of the Car Festival, District Minister G.T. Devegowda (GTD) directed all taluk and district administration officials to make necessary preparations for the smooth conduct of the jathre as lakhs of devotees from across the State will flock the town. Officials must focus on clearing the decks on car streets as thousands of devotees will pull the five chariots, he said.   

The Minister also instructed the officials to ensure drinking water, transportation, accommodation facilities for devotees and strive for the success of this big event.

City Municipal Council authorities must focus on maintenance of cleanliness at bathing ghats in Kapila river in particular where devotees will take holy dip. Dustbins must be kept and bleaching powder must be sprayed around the bathing ghats, he instructed.  The main streets of the temple town must be illuminated and special lighting arrangements are must at the banks of the river, he added.

The District Minister also gave  directions to Police to provide tight security around the  temple, to keep close vigil on the banks of Kapila river besides to install CCTVs, deploy adequate Police personnel during the Rathotsava.

On delay in construction of R. P. Road, the Minister asked the officials to complete it by Feb. 28 and open the road for public use.  

Taking strong objection on the officials who were absent for the  meeting, GTD directed the Deputy Commissioner to take stern action against such officials.

The district administration must set up three helplines to assist the devotees and emergency medical care too. To facilitate the free flow of traffic, public parking lots must be set up, he said.  

Health Department workers must take measures to prevent contagious diseases during the festival celebrations, he said.

Nanjangud MLA B. Harshavardhan,  former MLA Kalale Keshavamurthy, Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar, Taluk Panchayat President B.S. Mahadevappa, District Health Officer Dr. B. Basavaraju, Additional Superintendent of Police A.S. Sneha, Dy.SP Mallik, City Municipal Council President Pushpalatha, Temple Management Committee                                                          President Puttalingashetty, Pradhana Agamik Nagachandra Deekshit, Tahasildar Mahesh Kumar, Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer Srikantaraje Urs, Temple Executive Officer Kumaraswamy and others were present at the meeting.

Prior permission must for Prasadam distribution: Following the incidents of prasadam poisoning across the State, the District Minister directed the temple authorities to distribute quality prasadam to devotees.

Those distributing prasadam must seek prior permission from the temple management, he said and added that officials must issue directions and conditions for distribution of prasadam for applicants.