Railway power line poses obstacle to historical Madduramma car festival

BENGALURU: The Huskur Madduramma jatre (fair) is a popular annual car festival. Earlier, about a hundred car would take part in the festival till about a decade ago, but the number had dropped to just 12 cars. The tall and finely decorated chariots are the main attractions at the fair.

Jayanna, a villager said, “This year, there may be three to four cars participating, and the others are doubtful because of the railway electric line that passes near Chinthala Madivala village. Now the villagers are vent ire and disappointed with the railway’s electric connectivity. Villagers feel that unless the cars participate, the jatra may lose its significance. Devotees will come from across the country to see the tall Kurjus (a decorated frame on a slightly raised platform for placing idols). If the government or the Railway Ministry do not take measure to facilitate the movement of the cars, we will hold massive protest in the coming days”.

Manjunath Reddy, another villager, claimed only a few Kurjus have participated in the Madduramma festival in recent years. “We have requested the elected representatives in this regard, but it has been of no use. None of politicians have come here. The Madduramma temple is the oldest and there is history that Tipu Sultan donated ornaments to the deity. One of the specialties of the Madduramma fair is the decorated chariot is pulled by hundreds of devotees across the farmlands”.

Due to the electric line installed along the railway track for movement of electric trains, the Kurjus of many villages around Huskoor, including Kodati, Kaggalipura, Sulukunte, Chokkasandra, Harohalli, Narayanaghatta, Singena Agrahara are facing problems in crossing the railway track.

Reddy also warned, “The elected representatives, whether from the Centre or state government, should make alternative arrangements, otherwise the villagers have planned to boycott the upcoming Assembly elections”.