MYSURU: Keeping in mind the growing fear of Covid-19 second wave, the district administration cancelled the permission for the Gauthama Panchamaharathotsava at the Srikanteshwara Swamy temple in Nanjangud.
This Panchamaharathotsava was scheduled to be held on March 26.
The temple’s car festival will be held between March 19 and 30 following Covid guidelines. This car festival attracts a huge number of devotees from across Southern India.
This Panchamaharathotsava is popularly known as the Dodda jathre.
Ravindra, executive officer of the temple confirmed a district administration order in this regard.
According to an order issued by the DC Rohini Sindhuri, this Dodda Jathre should be performed symbolically by the temple staff pulling a mini chariot.
As per the state Covid technical committee recommendation, other celebrations will also be performed by the temple staff and priests.
Local devotees want the fest to be held
Meanwhile, the locals opposed the move to restrict the celebration. They are demanding that the car festival should be celebrated with local residents.
Locals including the Yuva Brigade members held a protest on Wednesday at 9am in front of the temple urging the district administration to withdraw the order. Instead, they are demanding that the outsiders should be banned from the celebrations.
"There is no Covid scare locally. The car festival should be allowed. To contain the Covid spread, the district administration can ban the entry of outsiders," the agitators said.