As the Ashada month approaches, preparations are in full swing at the famous Chamundi Hill in Mysuru, where lakhs of devotees are expected to visit the revered Chamundeshwari Temple during the four Ashada Fridays.
The first Ashada Friday this year falls on July 17, and preparations for a pilgrimage have started for devotees. A high-level review meeting was held last month under the chairmanship of Yathindra Siddaramaiah for crowd management, transportation, ticketing, and essential facilities.
Special Preparations for Lakhs of Devotees
This is going to be a huge influx of devotees from all over India, Yathindra Siddaramaiah said on Ashada Fridays, when the Ashada Fridays will take place. Given the hardships faced in the last few years, we will follow this to avoid inconvenience and to ensure that we do not let crowd-situational issues affect the proper control of the crowd to prevent any problem.
All departments have been instructed to work in concert and provide seamless services during the festival period, he said.
Private Vehicles to Be Restricted
One of the major decisions announced ahead of the celebrations is the restriction on private vehicles accessing Chamundi Hill on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of the Ashada month.
The move is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and ensuring the safety of devotees. If the government wanted to curb crowd congestion, they will have to put the restriction in place for the sake of the temple and its transportation system, and the temple is under the control of the Government.
Dedicated Bus Services for Premium Ticket Holders
Special bus services will be provided to the devotees buying premium darshan tickets priced at ₹2,000 to provide easy access to the temple. These dedicated buses will take ticket holders directly to the hill and will avoid long waiting times and traffic delays.
This would be useful for the movement of visitors and would help to relieve congestion at key entry points, he said.
VIP Darshan Timings Fixed
The authorities also set up a separate time for VIP visitors during Ashada Fridays. VIP devotees will be able to have darshan from 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM according to the schedule announced by the government.
The timing is chosen so that the crowd is distributed more equitably and is less disruptive for general devotees who are visiting the temple.
Online Ticket Booking Through Mobile App
To make the darshan process more convenient, devotees will purchase ₹2,000 darshan tickets through a mobile application. Temple authorities have confirmed that only two categories of tickets (₹100 and ₹2,000) will be available during the Ashada festivities.
The introduction of online booking will reduce queues and ease pilgrims coming from different parts of Karnataka and neighbouring states’ access to the pilgrimages.
Drinking Water and Buttermilk Facilities
Because of the high level of physical effort involved in the Chamundi Hill steps, authorities have planned special arrangements for devotees who choose to walk to the temple.
Free drinking water and buttermilk distribution centres will be set up along the route to help pilgrims stay hydrated. Prasadam distribution and other basic amenities will also be provided at the temple premises.
There is a lot of attention being paid to sanitation, crowd control, medical assistance, and other basic services to guarantee a comfortable experience for visitors, officials said.
Focus on Water Availability in Mysuru District
Yathindra Siddaramaiah also commented on other civic issues like the drinking water supply in Mysuru district. He said that this season's rainfall has been below normal levels and officials have been instructed to prioritise water storage in reservoirs.
There is no drinking water shortage in the district, and officials are taking preventive measures to avoid issues in the coming months.
With lakhs of devotees expected to visit Chamundi Hill on Ashada Fridays this summer, the administration hopes that the new arrangements will provide everyone with a safe, organised, and spiritual experience in which all pilgrims will be able to feel safe at the place.
