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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Crowd control measures in place for Aashada Fridays, Vardhanti
Mysuru: Mysuru district administration has made extensive preparations to manage the large influx of devotees expected at the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hills on Fridays during the Hindu month of Aashada and for Chamundeshwari Vardhanti on July 17. Fridays in the Hindu month of Aashada fall on June 27, July 4, 11, and 18. Deputy commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy and police commissioner Seema Latkar, along with senior officials, inspected the temple premises on Wednesday to oversee the preparations. Devotees can access the temple through Dharma Darshana (free general entry) or via two special entry categories priced at Rs 300 and Rs 2,000, respectively. Entry via recommendation letters will not be permitted this year. Private vehicles will be completely banned on all Aashada Fridays, accompanying weekends, and on July 17 — a total of 12 days. Instead, free shuttle services will be provided by KSRTC from the Lalitha Mahal Grounds to the hilltop. Sri Chamundeshwari Temple chief priest N Shashishekar Dixit stated that during the Aashadha Fridays, the special pujas will start at 3.30am at the temple. "Aashadha month is considered as auspicious in devi temples. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The annual car festival will be held on July 17," he said. "During the Aashadha Fridays, the devotees will be allowed to take the darshan of the goddess between 5.30am and 10pm. However, on July 17, the darshan will start at 8am," he explained. Special entry ticket counters will be located at the parking lot of Lalitha Mahal Grounds. The first shuttle will operate at 5am, with the last bus departing at 9pm on Aashada Fridays, and darshan will be open from 5am to 10pm on these special days. "Considering the stampede during the RCB victory celebrations, we've implemented strict crowd management to ensure the safety of devotees. Last year, each Aashada Friday drew between 1.5 lakh and 2 lakh devotees. This year, we are expecting even larger crowds, including on the following weekends," the deputy commissioner told reporters. He added that entry and exit routes at the temple will be separated and advised visitors to leave footwear at the parking area or avoid wearing it. VIPs have been requested to visit the temple only between 5am and 10am. Seema announced that over 1,700 police personnel will be deployed, including four KSRP platoons, a women's KSRP platoon. "The security will be supervised by two additional SPs grade officials. Residents staying on the hills will be required to carry valid ID cards. Separate parking facilities have been arranged for devotees opting for the Rs 300 and Rs 2,000 ticketed entries," the IPS officer said. To ensure a smooth experience for devotees, the administration has arranged for public address systems and loudspeakers for guidance, additional toilets, drinking water stations, emergency healthcare services, and ambulance services on standby. BOX Aashada Shukravara: June 27, July 4, 11, 18 Chamundeshwari Vardhanti: July 17 Timings: 5am to 10pm
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Ashada Fridays atop Chamundi Hills: A slew of measures in place as large turnout foreseen
With the first Ashada Friday scheduled on June 27, the Mysuru district administration is gearing up to manage a massive influx of devotees at the Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hills, expecting a turnout of over two lakh devotees on each Friday of the month. To ensure smooth darshan and prevent untoward incidents, a slew of measures have been put in place by the administration. On Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner (DC) G. Lakshmikant Reddy, along with senior officials, visited the temple premises and reviewed the preparedness. As in previous years, private vehicles will not be allowed on the hill from Friday to Sunday during the season. To manage the crowd and reduce congestion atop the hill, free shuttle buses will operate from the temporary bus stand near Lalitha Mahal Palace. 'All private vehicles are banned on these days. Free KSRTC buses will ferry devotees from the foothills. The entry system has been categorised to avoid confusion,' Mr. Reddy said at a press conference after the inspection. Three-tier darshan system This year, a three-tier darshan system will be in place with devotees having the option to choose from - a free darshan, a ticketed darshan at a cost of ₹300, or a special darshan at a price of ₹2,000. Tickets will be available at the bus-stand and parking lot near the Lalitha Mahal helipad. Separate shuttle buses will be operated based on ticket category. 'Devotees will be segregated at the foothills and guided accordingly to avoid mixing up of lines,' the DC added. Devotees, as per their ticket category, have to move in separate queues and reach a common entry point inside the temple premises, ensuring orderly darshan without mixing ticketed and free entry queues. Dasoha arrangements On the first Friday, temple authorities will manage the dasoha (mass food offering). Mr. Reddy clarified that no private individuals or organisations will be allowed to distribute prasad atop the hills despite several requests. The official dasoha will be arranged behind the temple in an open space only on the first Friday, he added. Security measures Police Commissioner Seema Latkar stated that over 1,000 police personnel will be deployed on bandobast duties across Chamundi Hills and its foothills from Friday to Sunday. Security will be maintained throughout the day in three shifts. Two DCPs, 12 ACPs, two Additional SPs, 20 inspectors, and a women's KSRP team will be in-charge of security. Additional CCTV cameras have been installed for surveillance, and movement on routes like Lalithadripura, Uttanahalli, and Tavarekere will be restricted on Ashada Fridays. Alternative routes will be notified to the public, she added. To help devotees navigate, QR codes will be made available that guide them directly to designated parking areas and the bus stand, Ms. Latkar informed. Traffic movement to the hill will be halted from 10 a.m. on Thursday, and only residents of Chamundi Hills with valid ID proof will be allowed entry thereafter, she told reporters. Temple chief priest Shashishekar Dikshit, MCC Commissioner Syed Tanvir Asif, temple authority member secretary Roopa, ZP CEO Yukesh Kumar. and other officials were present.
