Chamarajanagar: The historical Chamarajeshwara temple is all set to restart its annual car festival by next Ashada month. The car festival was stopped since 2017, when a miscreant set Brahma Rath (chariot) on fire.
Though the chariot was partly burnt, the priests, devotees opined that it will be no longer used for brahma Rathotsava as it is unholy. Since there was no chariot, the annual car festival also stopped. In the year 2018 the former chief minister Siddaramaiah sanctioned Rs 1.20 crores for construction of Rath. But the construction was delayed owing to technical reasons.
The construction of Rath started in the year 2020 in Bengaluru. The wheels of chariot were made in Badami, which was brought to Chamarajanagar on Tuesday in a lorry. Speaking to reporters after offering pooja to wheels, Chamarajanagar legislator Putta Ranga Shetty said that when devotees decided to construct new chariot, he appealed to CM Siddaramaiah who sanctioned Rs 1 crore for Rath and Rs 20 lakh for shed to keep Rath safely. He said that earlier they decided to conduct Brahma Rathotsava last year itself but following covid lockdown the making of Rath deferred. He said that the car festival would be held next year. He said that the Brahma Ratha will be brought here and will be received in a procession once the covid cases decreases. Then the wheels will be fixed.
He said that the historical Chamarajeshwara temple was renovated at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crores. The Samprokshana programme will be conducted at an estimated cost of Rs 7 lakhs soon. He said that if the government does not sanction Rs 7 lakhs the amount will be collected through donations from devotees.
