Ashada Friday: A sea of devotees flocks to Chamundi Hill
A sea of humanity flocked to the Chamundi Hills on Friday to seek the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari on the first Friday of the Ashada month.
Devotees began arriving from the early hours and stood in long queues, braving the weather to catch a glimpse of the diety. The temple was decorated with flowers, and the deity was adorned in Mahalakshmi Alankara.
Elaborate arrangements were made on the hill in view of the massive influx of devotees from various parts of the State. Nearly 1,000 police personnel were deployed for security and crowd management. Traffic was diverted on some roads leading to the hill to manage the rush.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has arranged for free bus services from the Lalitha Mahal Palace.
In addition to free darshan, the district administration introduced tickets for ₹300 and ₹2,000. Those opted for the ₹2,000 ticket were taken in AC buses from the temporary bus stand near Lalitha Mahal to the hill. They received direct darshan and were given prasadam, including a Chamundeshwari idol, a laddu, a bottle of drinking water, and a bag.
The temple authorities made arrangements for Dasoha (mass feeding), which is customary on the first Friday of the Ashada season.
Private vehicles will not be allowed on the hill on Saturday and Sunday. Devotees and visitors should park their vehicles at the designated parking area at the foothills and commute by the KSRTC buses.
A large number of devotees also climbed the hill using the steps. Some of the devotees climbed it to fulfil their 'harake' (vow).
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Devotees celebrate Aashada Friday at Chamundi amid long queues
1 2 Mysuru: The spiritual essence of the Hindu month of Aashada gripped Mysuru on Friday as thousands of devotees ascended the Chamundi Hills to observe the first Aashada Shukravara (Friday during the month of Aashada) with devotion and reverence at Sri Chamundeshwari Temple. Undeterred by light showers and a chilly breeze, devotees began gathering as early as 2.30 am at the hill shrine, climbing the hills to seek the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari. The temple premises were adorned with vibrant floral arrangements, green festoons, and illuminated lamps, creating a serene and divine atmosphere. The day commenced with Panchamruta Abhisheka and 'archane', followed by the goddess being beautifully decorated in the 'Mahalakshmi Alankara'. Compared to previous years, the footfall witnessed a significant surge, prompting the district administration to implement robust security and crowd control measures, especially in the wake of deaths in a stampede incident at Chinnaswamy Stadium last month. As per tradition, private vehicles were barred from accessing the hills. To facilitate smooth travel, KSRTC operated free shuttle services from Lalitha Mahal Palace Grounds to the hilltop. Special darshan tickets priced at Rs 300 and Rs 2,000 were made available for devotees at the Lalitha Mahal Palace Grounds. The premium Rs 2,000 ticket included air-conditioned transport, quick access for darshan, and a prasadam kit, including a Chamundeshwari idol, laddu, bottled water, and a souvenir bag. Despite meticulous planning, the sheer volume of devotees posed challenges for the police and support staff. Even the special darshan lines saw heavy crowds throughout the day. Some of the devotees who planned to go for general darshan, after seeing the sea of devotees, opted for the special entrance for Rs 300 and even Rs 2,000. People not only from across the district, but also from various districts across the state and from various other states visited the temple. Deputy commissioner of police (law & order) M Mutturaj said, "Compared to last year, the number of devotees was considerably higher. However, we managed to provide facilities. At any given time, the crowd ranged between 15,000 and 20,000." Among the prominent personalities who visited the temple on the first Aashada were former minister Revanna and actor Shruthi. No badam milk and dry fruits after special darshan: Devotee Santosh, who came from Shivamogga, said, "Though the authorities mentioned that the devotees would be given badam milk and dry fruits for those opting for special darshan, they failed to keep their word. There was no proper drinking water facility." Satish, who came from Bengaluru, said, "Even after giving Rs 2,000, we had to wait for nearly 2 hours. But still, compared to last year, there were some changes, like a separate queue for Dharma Darshana, a separate line for Rs 300, and a separate line for Rs 2,000."
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The Hindu
12 hours ago
- The Hindu
Ashada Friday: A sea of devotees flocks to Chamundi Hill
A sea of humanity flocked to the Chamundi Hills on Friday to seek the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari on the first Friday of the Ashada month. Devotees began arriving from the early hours and stood in long queues, braving the weather to catch a glimpse of the diety. The temple was decorated with flowers, and the deity was adorned in Mahalakshmi Alankara. Elaborate arrangements were made on the hill in view of the massive influx of devotees from various parts of the State. Nearly 1,000 police personnel were deployed for security and crowd management. Traffic was diverted on some roads leading to the hill to manage the rush. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has arranged for free bus services from the Lalitha Mahal Palace. In addition to free darshan, the district administration introduced tickets for ₹300 and ₹2,000. Those opted for the ₹2,000 ticket were taken in AC buses from the temporary bus stand near Lalitha Mahal to the hill. They received direct darshan and were given prasadam, including a Chamundeshwari idol, a laddu, a bottle of drinking water, and a bag. The temple authorities made arrangements for Dasoha (mass feeding), which is customary on the first Friday of the Ashada season. Private vehicles will not be allowed on the hill on Saturday and Sunday. Devotees and visitors should park their vehicles at the designated parking area at the foothills and commute by the KSRTC buses. A large number of devotees also climbed the hill using the steps. Some of the devotees climbed it to fulfil their 'harake' (vow).
