Mysuru: The holy month of Aashada brought spiritual fervour to Mysuru on Friday, as massive crowds of devotees climbed the Chamundi Hills to mark the first Aashada Shukravara at the revered Sri Chamundeshwari Temple. Braving early morning drizzles and a cold breeze, pilgrims began their ascent as early as 2:30 am, hoping for the blessings of the goddess.
The temple was beautifully decked with colorful flowers, green decorations, and glowing lamps, radiating divine serenity. Rituals began with a traditional Panchamruta Abhisheka and archane, followed by the deity adorned in the stunning Mahalakshmi Alankara.
This year’s turnout surpassed previous records, prompting local authorities to strengthen crowd regulation, particularly after the recent stampede tragedy at Chinnaswamy Stadium. In line with tradition, private vehicles were restricted, and KSRTC arranged complimentary bus services from Lalitha Mahal Palace Grounds to the temple.
Special darshan tickets priced at ₹300 and ₹2,000 were available at the base point. The premium package included AC transport, priority access, and a prasadam kit containing a goddess idol, laddu, water bottle, and souvenir bag. However, overwhelming turnout created long queues, even for ticket holders.
Devotees came not just from Mysuru, but across Karnataka and beyond. DCP (Law & Order) M Mutturaj estimated the crowd at any moment ranged from 15,000 to 20,000.
Some visitors voiced dissatisfaction. Santosh from Shivamogga said the promised badam milk and dry fruits were missing. Satish from Bengaluru said the ₹2,000 darshan still involved long waits, though overall facilities had improved from last year.