Sri Vairamudi Kireetadharna Mahotsav of Sri Cheluva Narayana Swamy, a part of the 13-day Vairamudi Brahmotsav that commenced on March 25, will be held at Melkote on Monday.
The mahotsav is also called ‘Vairamudi Kireetadharna Padiyatta’ and considered an important religious festival of south India. At least one lakh people are expected to witness the annual utsav.
The ‘kireetadharna mahotsav’ will begin on Monday morning after the Mandya district administration hands over the precious diamond-studded ‘Vairamudi’, ‘Rajamudi’ and other ornaments to the priests at the temple at the Mandya District treasury.
The presiding deity, Chaluva Narayana Swamy, will be adorned with precious ornaments and a series of worships and rituals would be offered throughout the day.
The idols of Lord Cheluva Narayana Swamy and goddesses Sridevi and Bhudevi Kalyananayaki would be taken in a procession along the main roads in Melkote.
With over one lakh people expected to throng the temple on Monday, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to ply special buses from Melkote to other places.
“We will operate buses to Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru and other places even at midnight,” M. Ramesh, Divisional Controller of KSRTC, Mandya, told The Hindu.
Meanwhile, the Mandya district police have made tight security arrangements for the utsav.
According to Srirangapatna Deputy Superintendent of Police Geetha Prasanna, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and large screens would be installed at several places to keep a vigil.
Meanwhile, the district administration has illuminated the temples, monuments, the kalyani (tank) and major roads of Melkote.
