Thousands of devotees witnessed the annual car festival of the famed Sharanabasaveshwara temple here on Tuesday to commemorate the 196th death anniversary of 18th century social reformer Sharanabasaveshwara and the ascension of the holy order (Peetarohana) of the eighth Peetathipati of the Sharanabasaveshwars Samsthan Poojya Dr. Sharanabasavappa Appa.
On the occasion, Dr. Appa displayed the holy silver bowl (Prasada battalu) and the Linga Sajjike (the cover used for keeping the Linga) made of sandalwood and used by Sharanabasaveshwara, signalling the beginning of the annual car festival and the fortnight long annual fair. The devotees pulled the decorated temple car around the temple complex, and threw bananas tied with dry dates at the temple car.
Right from morning, long queues were seen at the temple near the famous S.B Tank as the devotees were waiting on the terrace to catch a glimpse of buildings to witness the festival.
Even today, devotees from surrounding villages practice the inherited tradition of a padayatra, and reach the temple during Rathothsava to offer their obeisance to Saint Sharanabasaveshwar. Most observe a fast from dawn-to-dusk and break the fast by partaking ‘prasada’ from Sharanabasaveshwara samsthan only after the flower-bedecked chariot is pulled by devotees around the main temple complex at 6.00 p.m.
The festival is said to be the biggest congregation in this part of the State. One of its features is that a large number of Muslim devotees also take part in it.
Several voluntary organisations were distributing fried rice, juices, fruits, buttermilk, water and other eatables to the devotees along the streets.
