Amidst a blanket of thick fog, thousands witnessed the Cauvery Theerthodbhava at Talacauvery in Kodagu district on Tuesday.
Devotees from across the State and its neighbours thronged the hill temple from the early hours of Tuesday for the divine occurrence, which took place at around 12.33 p.m.
As the holy water ( theertha ) sprang up from Brahmakundike (a small pond), considered to be the source of the Cauvery, devotees rushed to the main pond to witness the event. Priests sprinkled the water on devotees, who jostled to take a holy dip and collect water from the pond.
Prior to the event, a series of rituals took place at the shrine, which was decorated with flowers.
Pratap Simha, MP; Appachu Ranjan, MLA; MLCs Veena Achaiah, and Sunil Subramani, and others witnessed the event.
The turnout of devotees to Talacauvery this year was much more when compared to previous years, the locals said.
The Kodagu district administration had made elaborate arrangements in anticipation of the heavy rush and the police had deployed personnel for security around the hill temple, with barricades put up at various points.
As many as 35 CCTV cameras were installed at vantage points and movement of private vehicles was regulated from Bhagamandala to ease congestion.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) ran special buses between Bhagamandala and Talacauvery following restrictions to the movement of private vehicles.
