Karnataka - Hassan   

Strange customs at temple festival

HASSAN: Strange customs are followed at the Thodakina Kallamma temple festival in Ananduru village near Rudrapattana in Arakalgud taluk of Hassan district. The temple is opened only for one day in a year (on every Bali Padyami). The belief is that if devotees worship at the temple, all their problems would be solved. The temple is 100 years old.

On Saturday, the temple was opened at 10 a.m. Over 100 married women brought water in pots from the nearby Cauvery in a colourful procession. The deity Kallamma was given “Abhishekam” with this water, and the archak performed the traditional puja. Then, residents of the village performed puja by offering milk, curd, honey, butter, fruits and ghee to the Goddess. Till 4 p.m. only vegetarian products were offered to the deity.

After 4 p.m., a pig was sacrificed at its altar. Farmers believe that by offering a pig and hen to the deity, their cattle would remain healthy.

A large number of hens are sacrificed on the day. After 4 p.m., devotees rush to the temple with the sacrificed hen in hand. Devotees from Karthalu, Hanyalu, Rudrapattana and Ganguru villages visit the temple. As part of the festival, a procession of 10 pairs of the best bullocks in the village are taken from house to house. For four hours, they are paraded, decorated with flowers. Residents offer fruits to these cattle. The entire Ananduru village wore a festive look on Saturday.

Tight security arrangements were made as a large number of devotees visited the temple.

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