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Hassan, (Karnataka) October 23 (IANS) Hassan district Deputy Commissioner (DC) KS Latha Kumari won hearts by participating in the daring fire-walking ritual at the famous Hasanamba temple complex in Karnataka’s Hassan city on Thursday. Her participation in the ritual has received widespread appreciation from devotees, and the video of DC Lata Kumari walking on burning embers has gone viral on social media.
Following the conclusion of the public darshan of Goddess Hasanamba on Wednesday night, the traditional ‘Kendotsav’ (fire walking ceremony) was held at the Hasanamba temple complex on Thursday morning.
Hassan Deputy Commissioner Lata Kumari participated in the ritual by walking barefoot on burning embers. The ‘Kendotsav’ ceremony was organized as part of the age-old traditions of the temple before the sanctum sanctorum of Hasanamba temple was closed for the year.
The darshan of devotees at the historic Hasanamba temple ended on Wednesday and the doors of the sanctum sanctorum will be closed after the last rituals. The doors will be reopened for devotees next year.
Before the doors of the sanctum sanctorum were closed, the Siddheshwar Swami chariot festival and the traditional fire-moving ceremony was conducted with great devotion and festivity.
After walking on the burning embers, Lata Kumari told the media, “Seeing the devotees walking on the embers carrying the sacred urn inspired me to do the same. I had never walked on fire before. Initially I was scared, but because I had faith in God, I walked with folded hands. Nothing happened to me.”
A large number of devotees gathered in the temple premises of Lata Kumari wearing pink churidar and encouraged her. A senior devotee assisted him in crossing the embers and after walking on the burning embers he celebrated the occasion.
The historic 13-day long Hasanamba festival in Karnataka’s Hassan district concluded on Wednesday. Around 26 lakh devotees, including celebrities, film actors and prominent politicians from the state, visited the temple and had ‘darshan’ of the deity. Through the sale of special ‘darshan’ tickets and laddu prasad (sweet offerings), the temple authorities collected a revenue of Rs 20 crore.
The doors of the historic temple were opened on 9 October to mark the inauguration of the Hasanamba Jatra Festival. Devotees get the opportunity to have darshan of the deity only during this annual festival. The temple remains closed during the rest of the year. An official statement regarding the exact number of devotees and total revenue has not been released yet by the authorities.
The main “miracle” associated with the Hasanamba temple is the preservation of offerings such as food and flowers, which remain fresh and not spoil for a whole year after being kept inside when the temple is closed. A traditional lamp is also lit in front of the deity during this period. The temple opens only for a few days during the Diwali season, and this patronage event is considered a testament to the divine presence of the goddess.
–IANS
MKA/Work