Mysuru: Thousands of devotees from across Karnataka and neighbouring states visited the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hill on the third Friday of the Ashada month, one of the most auspicious occasions in the temple’s annual calendar. With private vehicles barred from ascending the hill, devotees parked their two-wheelers and four-wheelers at the Shashiranjan Grounds and travelled to the temple in special KSRTC buses arranged by the district administration.

The district administration, temple authorities, KSRTC, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and the city police made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth darshan, crowd management and security throughout the day.

Special rituals begin before dawn

The day’s religious ceremonies commenced at 3.30 am with Panchamrutha Abhisheka and other special rituals offered to Sri Chamundeshwari Devi.

On the occasion, the Goddess was adorned in Lakshmi Alankara, while the Utsava Murthy was dressed in a light green saree with a blue border, attracting thousands of devotees who queued from the early hours for darshan.

Temple Chief Priest N. Shashishekara Dixith said worshipping Shakthi Devatha during the Ashada month is considered highly auspicious, drawing large numbers of devotees to the temple every year.

He noted that the Ashada Fridays hold special religious significance, making them among the busiest days in the temple’s annual calendar.

Floral decorations add grandeur

The temple premises were decorated with a variety of colourful flowers, including gladiolus, chrysanthemums and roses, creating a festive atmosphere.

The floral arrangements were complemented by decorations using fruits such as sweet lime (mosambi), enhancing the spiritual ambience of the shrine during the special celebrations.

Devotees expressed admiration for the elaborate decorations and participated in prayers throughout the day.

Special transport arrangements

To facilitate the movement of devotees and reduce congestion on the hill road, the Mysuru district administration continued its ban on private vehicles travelling to Chamundi Hill during all four Ashada Fridays, except those carrying VIPs with official protocol.

Parking facilities were provided at the Shashiranjan Grounds near the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, from where KSRTC operated special bus services to the hill.

According to KSRTC Urban Divisional Controller Jagadish Kumar, the corporation deployed:

  • Five Volvo buses for devotees holding Rs 2,000 special darshan tickets
  • Twenty-five free buses from Shashiranjan Grounds to Chamundi Hill
  • Fifteen regular ticketed buses from the KSRTC City Bus Stand for male devotees

The transport arrangements enabled thousands of pilgrims to reach the temple safely and efficiently throughout the day.

VIPs offer prayers

Several prominent personalities visited the temple to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion.

Among those who had special darshan were former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, former minister C. T. Ravi, Kumar Bangarappa and other invited dignitaries.

The administration had made separate arrangements to facilitate VIP visits without affecting the movement of the general public.

Extended darshan and prasada distribution

To accommodate the heavy rush, the temple remained open for darshan from 5.30 am until 10.30 pm without observing the usual afternoon or evening closure.

Several devotees and voluntary groups organised prasada distribution from 8 am to 7.30 pm at the multi-level parking area atop Chamundi Hill.

Additional prasada was also distributed near the Shashiranjan Grounds, ensuring that devotees waiting for buses or returning from the temple could also participate in the religious offering.

Cleanliness and security measures

The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) deployed 36 pourakarmikas, supervised by seven staff members in two shifts, to maintain cleanliness around the temple and parking areas.

To enforce the plastic ban, dedicated waste collection vans were stationed at key locations, while staff from the Chamundi Hill Gram Panchayat assisted in sanitation efforts.

The overall arrangements were coordinated under the supervision of Mysuru Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy and Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority Secretary C. G. Krishna.

Security arrangements were overseen by Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar and Deputy Commissioner of Police K. S. Sundar Raj, with more than 1,000 police personnel deployed across the hill and surrounding areas to regulate traffic, manage crowds and ensure the safety of devotees.

With seamless coordination among government departments and temple authorities, the third Ashada Friday celebrations concluded peacefully, allowing thousands of devotees to offer prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari in a safe and well-organised environment.