1,200 police personnel, 140 buses deployed for grand Vairamudi procession in Melkote on Saturday

With the much-awaited Vairamudi crown-adorning ceremony and grand procession set for Saturday, the district administration has made elaborate security and logistical measures, anticipating over two lakh devotees at the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple in Melkote.

Addressing a press conference in Mandya on Friday, Deputy Commissioner Kumar said, “1,210 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order during the annual festival, scheduled from March 23 to April 4. The highlight, the Vairamudi crown procession, will take place on Saturday.”

A multi-layered security mechanism has been put in place under senior police supervision. Fire tenders and emergency response teams have been stationed, while barricading and regulated crowd movement plans are expected to prevent congestion in key zones.

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has arranged around 140 special buses connecting major towns to Melukote, in addition to continuous shuttle services from Mandya, to ferry devotees to Melkote. Five free mini-buses will operate between parking zones and the temple for senior citizens, pregnant women, and other devotees. Also, authorities have set aside over 25 parking areas on the outskirts to ease traffic within the temple town.

In anticipation of a large turnout of devotees, civic amenities have also been scaled up, with 52 temporary toilets supplementing 20 permanent facilities. A ban on plastic use has been enforced across the festival area, while continuous dasoha (mass feeding) will be held from 8 a.m. on March 28 to 8 a.m. on March 29, the Deputy Commissioner said.

Surveillance has been stepped up with over 40 permanent CCTV cameras and 40 additional temporary units installed across key locations, including the bus stand, parking areas, temple premises, and major roads.

Drinking water will be supplied through tankers and temporary taps, while round-the-clock healthcare services, including ambulances, medical teams, and temporary clinics, will remain on standby. Food safety inspectors have also been deployed to monitor the quality of prasadam and community meals.

The festivities will include cultural programmes such as classical music and dance performances during the teppotsava on April 1 at the temple tank (kalyani). Special illumination and floral decorations have been planned across Melukote.

The entire event, including the ceremonial transport of the sacred Vairamudi crown under police escort, will be telecast live on television and YouTube, with large LED screens installed at key locations.