Prepare for grand Nanjangud car fest: MLA

Mysuru: Nanjangud MLA B Harshavardhan on Monday directed taluk-level officials to make necessary preparations for a grand Gouthama Panchamaha Rathotsava of Lord Srikanteshwara in Nanjangud, one of the most popular car festivals of Old Mysuru region.
The car festival will be held at 6am on April 2 am while the Teppotsav will be held on April 4.
Presiding over the preliminary meeting at the temple town, Harshavardhan asked PWD officials to take the lead in the preparations.
He instructed CESC officials to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the celebrations as well as to make illumination arrangements in the town.
Additional KSRTC buses
KSRTC must operate additional buses as lakhs of devotees from across South India will participate in the Dodda Jatre which will witness five chariots being pulled by devotees.
The utsava murthy of Lord Srikanteshwara will be taken in the main thoroughfares of the temple in the 96-feet high Gouthama chariot. The idol of goddess Parvati Devi will be taken out in the second chariot, Lord Ganesha in the third chariot, Lord Subramanya in the fourth and the finally the idol of Lord Chandikeshwara Swamy will be installed in the fifth chariot.
The popular Teppotsava on the river Kapila will be held on April 4. Rituals of the Gouthama Panchamaha Rathotsava will start from March 26 with priests performing pujas, he said.
Mysuru deputy commissioner KV Rajendra asked police and the fire and emergency services department to be ready with boating arrangements, protective gear and expert swimmers as thousands of devotees will take a dip in the Kapila river and congregate during the Teppotsava.
He wanted town municipal council officials to maintain cleanliness, focus on health and hygiene issues with establishment of more than 200 mobile toilets, and ensure adequate drinking water to the devotees.
The health department must be ready with ambulances and police must deploy more personnel for security measures in and around the temple besides installing CCTVs on the car street to keep an eye on the proceedings and to check power cables along the car street.
The deputy commissioner also wanted officials to minimize the usage of plastic, besides focus on environment-friendly celebrations.
Assistant commissioner Kamalabai, executive officer of the temple Jagadeesh and other officials were present at the meeting.