JOIN USThe famous Hasanamba temple is all decked up and illuminated for its annual festival, the Hasanamba jatra, which is scheduled to be held this year from October 20 to November 1.
The road leading to the temple from Dairy Circle has been illuminated. The temple, which opens once in a year during Deepavali, will be open for public darshan for 13 days, from October 20 to November 1. The temple authorities have made elaborate arrangements and sought the assistance of ex-servicemen to man the crowds and maintain security on the premise. The authorities have taken up development works of the temple at a cost of Rs 82 lakh.
The temple is opened once in a year during Ashwayuja Masa, on the Thursday after ‘poornima’ (full moon day). The authorities said the doors of the temple would be opened at 12.30 pm on October 20 and closed by 7.30 pm. The public will be allowed entry into the temple from October 21 to November 1 from 6 am to 2 am, with an interval of four hours.
More than 13 lakh people from several parts of the state and beyond are expected to visit the temple, this year. Barricades have been erected to streamline the crowd and shelters set up to prevent the devotees from the scorching sun and rains. A drinking water unit has also been set up at a cost of Rs 6 lakh.
Hassan Milk Union Limited (Hamul) will distribute water packets for free while the Muzrai department has made arrangements to distribute food for 50,000 devotees everyday. Eight varieties of prasada, including rice pulav, chitranna, bisi bele bath, uppittu and avalakki will be served to devotees. Philanthropists have donated 110 quintals of rice as there is a need for 400 quintal of rice for 13 days. A special ticket would cost devotees Rs 300.
Parking facilities
Elaborate parking arrangements have been made for two-wheelers at the CMC office and for autorickshaws and cars on the exhibition grounds near Santhepet. CCTV cameras have also been installed at the temple entrance, exit point, parking area and other places.
Speaking to DH, Temple Administrative Officer H N Nagaraju said, last year, the temple had earned Rs 1.40 crore through ticket sales. He stated that the authorities have spent Rs 82 lakh towards development of the temple and added that only a few lady constables would be deputed at the sanctum sanctorum. He said senior citizens and patients would be allowed through a special entrance.
The officer said that 24 priests would be on duty in shifts so that the temple could remain open for devotees and added that passes had been issued to dignitaries to prevent any confusion during darshan.
Security arrangements
SP Rahul Kumar said, three DSPs, nine PIs, 26 sub-inspectors, 300 constables, 400 personnel of KSRP and DAR have been deployed. “In all, 45 ex-servicemen would be on duty inside the temple, who would work in three shifts,’’ he added.