MANGALURU – A major mishap occurred in the early hours of Saturday during the grand Brahmarathotsava celebration at the Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple in Mulki, when the upper section of the temple’s ceremonial chariot (ratha) unexpectedly collapsed mid-procession.
The incident reportedly unfolded between 1:40 am and 2 am, as thousands of devotees were enthusiastically participating, pulling the grand ratha through the temple grounds. Temple priests, seated within the chariot at the time, narrowly escaped harm when the controlling rope snapped, leading the top structure to tilt and crash to the ground.
The sudden fall triggered panic among the gathered crowd, with many quickly shifting away from the leaning side to avoid injury. Fortunately, due to the quick reactions of the devotees and temple volunteers, no one was injured.
Despite the alarming episode, the festival continued without interruption. To carry on with the sacred rituals, the temple authorities resumed the deity’s procession using the Chandramandala chariot, ensuring that the spirit and tradition of the festival remained intact.
Visuals of the incident, captured on mobile phones, quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing attention to the need for better safety measures during large-scale temple events.
The Bappanadu Temple festival is a centuries-old tradition, attracting devotees from across coastal Karnataka and beyond.
Read Also: