Chamarajanagar: Ugadi fete atop MM Hills to be a grand affair this year

By S Ramesh
MYSURU: The Ugadi celebrations and car festival atop the M M Hills in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district will be a grand affair this year after two years of scaled down celebrations due to the pandemic.
The district administration has decided to celebrate the festival in a grand manner with all rituals this year. Ugadi jatra mahotsav will be held from March 29 till April 2 this year.The decision comes as the border district reported zero Covid cases this week.
The Male Mahadeshwara Hills temple is one of the highest revenue generating Muzarai temple after Kukke Subramanya and Chamundeshwari temple in the State.
The Male Mahadeshwara Temple Development Authority, that oversees the temple management activities, said it generates around Rs 80 to 95 crore revenue every year from all sources. The temple registers around Rs 7-9 crore revenue every month with a monthly expenditure of Rs Five crore for the maintenance of the temple, said the sources.
Apart from devotees from across the state, a large number of devotees from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala flock the temple on festival occasions.
As per the footfall registered by the Male Mahadeshwara Temple Development Authority, nearly 2-4 lakh devotees congregate during jathra celebrations at the temple.
As the temple shut down for devotees, the temple incurred revenue loss. However, after a gap of two years, the temple is all set to regain its past glory during this Ugadi festival celebrations which will be held for five days from March 29 till April 2. Several rituals will be held during this period — jathra festival on March 29, Enne Majjana seve on March 30, Amavasya utsav on March 31 and April 1, and Maha Rathotsava on April 2, said the sources.
“As the Covid cases have dropped to zero, state government and district administration have relaxed all restrictions. The temple authority has decided to celebrate this year’s Ugadi festival in a grand manner. We are opening all 16 guest houses for devotees as per directions from district minister Somanna,” said Male Mahadeshwara Temple Development Authority secretary Jayavibhavaswamy.
“A large pandal will be erected along the main streets for devotees to relax. All measures have been taken to deploy additional workers during the festivals to keep the premises clean as thousands of devotees arrive on the occasion. As the temple draws water from Cauvery river through pipeline, there will be no water shortage,” he said.
“Instructions have also been given to local authorities and tahsildars by district administration to make all necessary arrangements such as operating KSRTC bus facilities from district, taluk headquarters including from neighbouring Tamil Nadu within the scheduled time for the convenience of the devotees,” Chamarajanagar additional deputy commissioner Katyinidevi told TOI.