People throng Deviramma temple in Chikkamagaluru on Saturday
Deviramma temple, situated at a height of about 3,900 feet atop the hill in the Baba Budangiri range, is known for its unique tradition. The temple doors open only once a year – on Naraka Chaturdashi day before sunrise – drawing thousands of devotees who undertake a challenging 3-km steep climb in complete darkness to witness the sunrise and offer prayers to Goddess Deviramma. Police and home guards were deployed every 100 metres, while forest department personnel regulated entry of devotees to prevent damage to the shola forest.
Officials said the ritual concluded peacefully with no untoward incident reported. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mysuru | Silver Rate in Mysuru | Bank Holidays in Mysuru | Public Holidays in Mysuru Stay updated with the latest Mysuru news.
Goddess Deviramma is believed to protect the hills and villages below, according to devotees. Chants of “Deviramma” echoed through the hills as queues extended for over a kilometre near the sanctum. The ritual commenced early in the morning and puja was performed from 6am to 10am. Only after that were devotees allowed to climb. Darshan will be open till Sunday. Devotees believe that participating in the ritual brings prosperity and protects them from evil. This year too, despite the cold and misty conditions, a large number of devotees including women and youth participated. This time, the devotees were not allowed to climb the hill in the night considering their safety. The Chikkamagaluru district administration, police, forest department and revenue department made elaborate arrangements for the safety and smooth conduct of the ritual. Barricades were installed at risky curves; ropes were tied for support; drinking water, temporary toilets and first-aid centres were set up at the foothills. Drone surveillance was also carried out to monitor crowd movement. Download the TOI App.
Last year, several people were injured as there was rainfall. People throng Deviramma temple in Chikkamagaluru on Saturday Chikkamagaluru: Thousands of devotees from Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Shivamogga and other neighbouring districts trekked to Deviramma Betta in the Chandra Drona hill range of Chikkamagaluru district on Saturday for the annual Deviramma temple ritual held on the occasion of Deepavali .