Large turnout at Datta Peeta

CHIKKAMAGALURU: Devotees made a beeline to Datta Peeta at Chandradrona Hill of Chikkamagaluru on Thursday which was the final day of the Datta Jayanthi Utsav. The high devotee attendance at Datta Peeta has left BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders smiling.

Since, Datta Peeta is a disputed site between Hindus and Muslims, members of VHP wanted Datta Jayanthi to be a show of strength of Hindus to send across a message to the state government-which is now entrusted with the responsibility of settling the dispute- that any decision which goes against Hindus would have dire consequences.

According to VHP, Bajrang Dal and BJP leaders monitoring the Utsav, 18,000 devotees made it to the site on Thursday. BJP Chikkamagaluru town president Venugopal said they would make all efforts to bring more devotees to the site next year. Deputy Commissioner Shadakshri Swami said the influx of devotees has been more than expected.