Mysore, July 29, 2013: Devotees thronged the temple of Goddess Chamundeshwari atop Chamundi hills here on Sunday on the occasion of ‘Vardhanti Utsava’ (birthday) of the presiding deity.

Hundreds of people had come from various places to witness special pujas at the temple and the procession of ‘utsav murthi’ in a specially decorated palanquin around the temple complex.

The procession was accompanied by artistes playing music. Pramodadevi Wadiyar, wife of the scion of the erstwhile Mysore royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, and the former Minister S.A. Ramdas witnessed the rituals.

The police had restricted the entry of private vehicles atop the hills in view of the rush of devotees. The KSRTC had arranged special buses to take people to the temple.

Decorated

The sanctum sanctorum of the temple was specially decorated with different flowers.

Special prasadam was distributed to the devotees.

Devotee Rajanna, a resident of Bannimantap here, and members of Bettada Balaga, who organise Mastakaabhisheka to the Nandi statue atop the hills every year, donated a silver door for the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Source: The Hindu, July 29, 2013