HASSAN: The doors of the famous Hasanamba temple was opened today in the auspicious hour at 12.10 pm on the first Thursday of the Hindu month of Ashvija amid all rituals. Thousands of devotees raised chants of the presiding deity Hasanamba as the doors opened.
Nanjaraje Urs of the Mysuru royal family symbolically cut a banana stalk after which the temple doors were opened. Adichunchanagiri Math seer Nirmalanandanatha Swami, Siddaganga Math seer Siddalinga Swamy, district in-charge minister K N Rajanna, MP Shreyas Patel. MLAs H P Swaroop Prakash and Cement Manju, Karnataka Housing Board chairman K M Shivalinge Gowda and all senior officials of the district administration were present.
The earthen lamp lit before the doors were closed last year was continuing to burn and the offerings still seemed fresh, temple authorities said. Minister Rajanna said that last year, 14.40 lakh devotees had visited the temple during the Hasanamba-Siddeshwara temple fair and that they expected about 20 lakh visitors this year.
Thousands of devotees had lined up for darshan of Goddess Hasanamba on Thursday. The temple will be open from 6 am on Friday up to November 3.