Mysuru: Thousands of devotees thronged Sri Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hill on Tuesday as Chamundeshwari Vardhanthi Mahotsava of the presiding deity, Goddess Chamundeshwari, was celebrated with religious fervour.The hill wore a festive look as special rituals, cultural traditions and a grand golden palanquin procession marked the annual celebration.The day began with special pujas and rituals in the early hours. The deity was adorned in Chamundeshwari Alankara, attracting devotees from across the state. After the completion of the morning rituals, the temple was opened for public darshan around 8am, following which thousands of devotees queued up to seek the blessings of the goddess. The temple premises were beautifully decorated with paddy stalks, coconut fronds and colourful flowers, adding to the spiritual ambience.Explaining the significance of the festival, chief priest Shashishekar Deekshit said Vardhanthi Mahotsava is observed every year on Ashadha Shukla Saptami coinciding with Revati Nakshatra. The tradition dates back to 1820, when Mysuru maharaja Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar presented the Utsava Murthy to the temple. Since then, the festival has been celebrated annually with special decorations and the ceremonial golden palanquin procession.The participation of the Mysuru royal family remains one of the major highlights of the festival. MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, accompanied by his wife Trishikha Kumari Wadiyar and mother Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, performed the traditional royal puja before formally flagging off the golden palanquin procession.Utsava Murthy of goddess Chamundeshwari was ceremonially placed in the golden palanquin and taken around the temple in a grand procession. Karnataka police band presented a ceremonial salute, while chants of ‘Jai Chamundeshwari’ echoed across the hill as devotees joined the procession in large numbers.Several dignitaries participated in the celebrations. Minister SS Mallikarjun, accompanied by his family, offered special prayers at the temple during his first visit after assuming office. MP Prabha Mallikarjun, MLA Samarth Mallikarjun and other family members also sought the blessings of the deity.
