Mysuru:  Braving the morning chill, thousands of devotees from different parts of the State thronged the famed Sri Subramanyeshwara Swamy Temple at Siddalingapura on Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway, for the annual Shashti Jatra today.

Subramanya Shashti is a big festival in the Margashira Maasa dedicated to Lord Subramanya. The Shashti rituals began as early as 1 am, with a team of priests led by the Temple Chief Priest M.V. Subramanya performing Rudrabhisheka, Sahasranamarchane, Ashtavadhana Seve etc., even as thousands of devotees queued up for paying obeisance to Lord Subramanya, the presiding deity. 

The temple authorities had brought the six-foot tall Nagabharana, from the District Treasury last night itself for worship. Devotees were seen offering milk and other puja articles at numerous ant-hills around the temple.

A grand Rathotsava marked the festival, with devotees offering prayers, as the Ratha moved to the Shiva Temple nearby and returned to Sri Subramanyeshwara Temple. The rituals will continue till late night today.

City Police had made elaborate security arrangements for the occasion. The Police have restricted traffic movement on the busy Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway for 24 hours from Sunday midnight to Monday midnight. Vendors selling food items, puja items and other articles have set up make-shift shops around the temple.

In Mysuru City

Special pujas marking Subramanya Shashti were performed at many prominent temples across the city including Subramanya Swamy Temple at Hanumanthanagar, Amrutheshwara Temple on Dewan’s Road, Kadumalleshwara Temple near the DC’s Office, Chandramouleshwara Temple at Mathru Mandali Circle and Bandanthamma Temple in Kuvempunagar.