The streets of Melkote at Pandavapur taluk in the district were abuzz with activities with approximately 1.5 lakh devotees from Karnataka and neighbouring States witnessing the annual religious spectacle ‘Sri Vairamudi Kireetadharna Mahotsava’ of Lord Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy.
The grand procession of ‘diamond-studded Vairamudi’ (crown) adorned Lord Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy, also called as ‘Vairamudi Kireetadharana Padiyatta’, commenced late on Sunday and will conclude early on Monday.
The utsav is one of the most revered spiritual events in South India. Devotees from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu flocked to Melkote to witness the religious event of adorning the ‘Vairamudi’ to the presiding deity.
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The idols of Goddesses Sridevi and Bhudevi Kalyananayaki were also taken out in the procession through the main streets of Melkote amid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests.
Earlier in the morning here, the diamond-studded ‘Vairamudi’, ‘Rajamudi’, ‘Gandabherunda’, and other ornaments were handed over to the temple authorities here. Deputy Commissioner N. Manjushri, Superintendent of Police D. Shivaprakash, and other officials handed over the sealed boxes containing ornaments to the authorities of the Sri Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple Trust to conduct the utsav.
The ornaments were donated to Lord Cheluvanarayana Swamy by the Wadiyars of Mysuru. The ‘Vairamudi’ will be returned to the District Treasury on Monday, while the ‘Rajamudi’, and other ornaments will be used to perform pujas for some more days.
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Special pujas were performed to the boxes at many temples while being taken to Melkote under tight police security. The utsav is a part of the 13-day ‘Vairamudi Brahmotsava’, an important festival held at the four major ‘Vaishnavite Divyakshetras’.
The ‘Brahmotsava’ in Tirupati, the ‘Garudotsava’ in Kancheepuram, and the ‘Kotharotsava’ in Srirangam are other three utsavs of ‘Vaishnavite Divyakshetras’.