Hundreds of devotees visit Deviramma Temple in Chikkamagaluru

Hundreds of devotees made their way up the Deviramma hill in Mallenahalli, located near Chikkamagaluru, on Saturday to pay their respects to the goddess. The hilltop shrine of Deviramma is typically accessible to the public only once a year, during the annual festival known as Bindiga Deviramma jatre. On Saturday, the annual celebrations kicked off with devotees carrying out a procession of the idol (utsava murti) from the temple situated at the base of the hill to the shrine at the peak.

After the idol was installed at the summit, devotees were granted darshan following the rituals of abhisheka and puja.

Reaching the pointed peak was no easy feat, as many devotees chose to climb barefoot along the steep, rocky, and thorny path. To ensure their safety, police personnel and Fire and Emergency Services staff were stationed at various points along the route. The district administration and police put forth considerable effort to facilitate the festival's smooth execution.

In the past, devotees were only permitted to climb the hill and have darshan on Naraka Chaturdashi. However, due to the increasing number of pilgrims each year, the festival has been extended to span two days. Additionally, climbing the hill at night was once allowed but has since been prohibited for safety reasons; now, the climb is only permitted during daylight hours on both days.

With the festival running into its second day, it is anticipated that even more devotees will make their way up the hill on Sunday. Mallenahalli, Bindiga, and the surrounding villages are currently in a festive spirit.