The first Ashada Shukravara puja began at Chamundeshwari temple atop the Chamundi Hills here on Friday. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa offered prayers to the presiding deity of Mysore at the temple around 5.20 a.m.
People started arriving at the temple early in the morning.
Long queue
There was a long queue in front of the temple, which was decorated with flowers. The district administration had made elaborate arrangements in view of the heavy rush of devotees.
The temple main priest performed special pujas when the Chief Minister, who was accompanied by Minister in-charge of Mysore district S.A. Ramdas and other Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, visited the temple.
The hill top was covered by a dense blanket of fog in the morning. The whole area was lit up and devotees had to pass through barricades put up by the police.
Two-wheelers, autorickshaws and cars were allowed on the road leading to the temple to avoid congestion at the hill top. Private vehicles will be prohibited on Fridays during Ashada season.
Special services
Special bus services to the temple had been arranged from the Lalitha Mahal Palace Helipad on the foothills. Devotees parked their vehicles in the helipad surroundings and boarded the buses to reach the temple for the darshan. Mr. Ramdas inaugurated the bus services at the helipad around 2.30 a.m.
