Nanjangud chariot festival celebrated with gaiety

The famed Rathothsava of Srikanteshwara Swamy temple was held amidst religious fervour and devotional frenzy at Nanjangud – about 24 km from the city – on Wednesday.

All the main roads leading to the temple were overflowing with devotees and pilgrims from across the State who had come to witness the annual spectacle, also known as ‘Panchamaha Rathothsava’ as it involves drawing five chariots along the temple street.

Main rituals related to the festival were conducted by a battery of priests, led by Nagachandra Dixit at dawn, following which it was time for the five chariots to be drawn around the temple streets by devotees. Every inch of available space on the road, apart from the key vantage points, were occupied by devotees who began assembling much before dawn.

The idols of Lord Ganesha, utsavamurthy of Lord Srikanteshwaraswamy, Goddess Parvathi, Lord Subramanya and Lord Chandikeshwara were placed in the chariots – one idol in each ratha – which signalled the countdown for the actual drawing of the chariots. The first chariot, which is traditionally off the block, is the ratha with the idol of Lord Ganesha and this was followed by that of Lord Srikanteshwara, Parvathi, Subramanaya and Chandikeshwara.

Given the gargantuan height of the main ratha of Lord Srikanteshwara – almost 90 feet – the main roads were repaired to avoid the giant wheel sinking into the loose soil as it happened a few years ago.

There was elaborate security in view of the huge congregation and special bus services were operated by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) from Mysuru and Chamarajanagar. CCTV cameras were also in place to monitor the situation. In view of the huge congregation and the searing heat, voluntary groups had set up kiosks to dispense with water and other coolants to the public.