Preparations are on for Srikanteshwara Temple’s ‘Dodda Jathre’

The famous ‘Dodda Jathre’ of the Srikanteshwara Temple in Nanjangud will be held on March 30. In this regard, a preparatory meeting, presided over by Darshan Dhruvanarayan, Nanjangud MLA, was held in the temple town on Monday to discuss arrangements for the annual jathre, which attracts lakhs of devotees.

At the meeting, the MLA instructed officials to make all necessary arrangements for devotees and to accord priority to cleanliness, drinking water supply, sanitation, power supply, healthcare, transport and security. He directed officials to ensure effective waste management, uninterrupted drinking water supply, and the installation of a sufficient number of mobile toilets for the convenience of devotees.

Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikant Reddy said that barricading should be put in place and additional police personnel deployed to prevent stampedes, as large crowds gather near the chariots during the procession.

Officials of the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation were instructed to temporarily remove overhead power lines along the chariot routes and restore them after the festival. They were also directed to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the Rathotsava, Teppotsava, and other rituals.

Five chariots will be technically inspected in advance to certify their roadworthiness, and roads along the chariot routes will be repaired and levelled. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate additional buses from March 29 to April 2.