Udupi: Udupi Sri Krishna Math continues to witness a heavy influx of devotees despite the scorching summer heat, with the temple administration introducing several new arrangements to improve convenience and comfort for visitors during the ongoing vacation season.

Thousands of devotees from different parts of Karnataka and neighbouring states have been arriving daily at the renowned temple for darshan. Earlier, many devotees were forced to stand for long hours in queues under the harsh sun, facing considerable discomfort while waiting to enter the temple premises.

To address the issue, the Paryaya Shiroor Math has implemented a series of new facilities aimed at easing crowd movement and reducing hardship for devotees.

Permanent roofing installed along queue lines

One of the major improvements introduced by the temple administration is the installation of permanent roofing along the queue routes leading to the temple.

The roofing now provides shade to devotees standing in queues for darshan, protecting them from direct exposure to the intense summer heat prevailing in Udupi district.

Apart from the roofing arrangement, the administration has also made provisions for cool beverages and drinking water facilities along the waiting areas to help devotees cope with rising temperatures.

Devotees visiting the temple said the arrangements have brought major relief, especially for elderly visitors, children and families waiting for long durations during peak hours.

Temple authorities stated that the measures were introduced after observing the difficulties faced by devotees during the current summer and vacation rush.

Direct darshan system brings relief

Another important change introduced at the Krishna Math is the direct darshan arrangement through the Kanaka Mantapa route.

Earlier, devotees often had to wait for several hours to get a glimpse of Lord Sri Krishna due to crowd congestion and limited movement space within the temple premises.

With the revised arrangements, devotees are now able to move more systematically through the darshan route, reducing waiting time and improving overall crowd management.

Special provisions have also been made for emergency situations and quick movement whenever required, benefiting both tourists and local worshippers.

Temple officials said the new arrangements have significantly improved the darshan experience and helped streamline the flow of devotees during busy hours.

Separate queue system for locals and VIPs

Speaking about the initiatives, Shiroor Math Diwan Uday Kumar Saralattaya said efforts were being made to bring greater discipline and convenience to the temple’s darshan system while preserving traditional practices followed at the Krishna Math.

He explained that devotees traditionally first worship Lord Krishna through the Kanakana Kindi before proceeding to the Chandramouleshwara and Anantheshwara temples and later taking darshan again through the Navagraha Kindi.

According to him, separate queue systems have now been organised for VIP visitors and local devotees to ensure smoother movement and reduce unnecessary crowding.

Saralattaya said many local devotees who regularly visit the temple had requested a more practical arrangement, as standing in long queues every day was becoming difficult for them.

ID card system planned for local devotees

To address the concerns of frequent visitors, the temple administration is now planning to introduce an identification card system for local devotees.

Under the proposed arrangement, verified local devotees will be allowed entry through a separate queue system designed specifically for regular worshippers.

Saralattaya said the identification cards would be issued at a minimal cost after proper verification procedures. He added that strict measures including thumb impression authentication and face verification would be implemented to prevent misuse of the facility.

Temple authorities believe the new system will help maintain better crowd discipline while ensuring convenience for residents who visit the temple regularly for prayers and rituals.

More facilities introduced for devotees

In addition to roofing and dedicated queue systems, fans have also been installed along waiting areas to improve comfort levels for devotees standing in queues during the afternoon heat.

The temple administration has appealed to local devotees to visit the temple between 2 pm and 5 pm whenever possible to avoid congestion during peak darshan timings.

Officials said the number of devotees visiting the Krishna Math has remained consistently high despite the extreme summer temperatures, reflecting the spiritual importance of the temple and the ongoing vacation season rush.

Devotees have largely welcomed the newly introduced facilities, stating that the arrangements have made the darshan process more organised and less physically demanding.

With visitor numbers expected to remain high in the coming weeks, temple authorities indicated that additional improvements may also be introduced in phases to further enhance the overall experience for devotees visiting Udupi Sri Krishna Math.