Hundreds of devotees visit Deviramma Temple in Chikkamagaluru

Hundreds of devotees climbing the Deviramma hill at Mallenahalli, near Chikkamagaluru, on Saturday.

Hundreds of devotees climbed the Deviramma hill at Mallenahalli, near Chikkamagaluru, on Saturday to have darshan of the goddess, whose hilltop shrine is opened to the public only once a year during the annual festival.

The annual Bindiga Deviramma jatre began on Saturday at Mallenahalli in Chikkamagaluru taluk. In the morning, the devotees carried out procession of the idol (utsava murti) from the temple at the foot of the hill to the shrine at the summit and installed there. Devotees were allowed darshan after abhisheka and puja were performed.

Many devotees climbed barefoot along the steep, rocky and thorny path to the pointed peak. Police personnel and Fire and Emergency Services staff were stationed at several points to assist them. The district administration and the police made arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival.

Devotees were earlier allowed to climb the hill and have darshan only on Naraka Chaturdashi. The number of pilgrims has gone up every year, so the festival has been extended to two days. Earlier, devotees could also climb the hill at night. This has now been prohibited for safety reasons, and the climb is permitted only during the day on both days.

More devotees are expected to climb the hill on Sunday. Mallenahalli, Bindiga and the surrounding villages are in a festive mood.