Vairamudi Brahmotsava at Melkote from March 23

The annual Vairamudi Brahmotsava will be held at Melkote in Mandya district from March 23 to April 5, with the much-awaited Vairamudi crown adorning ceremony and grand procession scheduled for March 28.

Presiding over a preparatory meeting in connection with the Brahmotsava at his office, Deputy Commissioner Kumar directed officials to ensure all necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival.

Considering the summer season, he emphasised the need to provide safe drinking water facilities for devotees and instructed authorities to clean existing water tankers and maintain hygiene standards before supplying drinking water.

Dr. Kumar directed proper barricading at the festival venue and instructed officials to install additional CCTV cameras in areas prone to heavy crowding. Adequate parking arrangements must be made and free shuttle bus services arranged to transport devotees from parking areas to the temple.

Special attention must be given to safety and health measures, he said, directing officials to deploy trained swimmers near the temple pond and to place fire and emergency personnel at strategic locations. Ambulances and essential medicines should be kept ready, and designated doctors must remain present at assigned locations throughout the festival to address any medical emergencies.

Bio-toilets must be installed near Melkote Kalyani, the bus stand, and the temple area. Roads leading to the venue should be repaired in advance. Continuous power supply must be maintained throughout the duration of the Brahmotsava, and streetlights must be repaired to avoid inconvenience to devotees, he said. A complete ban on plastic usage within the festival area was also ordered.

Special illumination and floral decorations will be arranged at the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and the Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, along with major mantapas and kalyanis on the temple premises.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K.R. Nandini, Additional Deputy Commissioner B.C. Shivanandamurthy and other officials were present.