Bengaluru, Oct 22 (NationPress) The legendary Hasanamba festival, celebrated over a span of 13 days in the Hassan district of Karnataka, came to a close on Wednesday. Approximately 26 lakh devotees, including notable figures from the film industry, celebrities, and key politicians from the region, flocked to the temple to seek the divine blessings of the Goddess.

Through the sale of exclusive darshan tickets and laddu prasada, the temple administration generated an impressive revenue of Rs 20 crore.

The historic Hasanamba Temple opened its doors on October 9 for the commencement of the Hasanamba Jatra Mahotsava. Devotees can only experience the darshan of the deity during this annual event. The temple remains closed for the rest of the year.

An official announcement detailing the precise number of attendees and total earnings is still awaited from the authorities.

A remarkable aspect of the Hasanamba Temple is the miraculous preservation of offerings such as food and flowers, which stay fresh and unspoiled for an entire year once placed inside during the temple's closure. The traditional lamp in front of the deity also remains lit throughout this time.

For a few days during the Diwali season, the temple briefly opens, and this preservation phenomenon is seen as a reflection of the goddess's divine presence.

Krishna Byre Gowda, the Minister for Revenue and District In-Charge of Hassan, supervised the arrangements, ensuring everything went smoothly. He remarked, “Everything proceeded without incident. On Tuesday evening, darshan was halted, allowing morning access for devotees.”

“In the general queue, the waiting period extended up to five hours. Those with Rs 300 tickets faced a wait of approximately three hours, while holders of Rs 1,000 tickets enjoyed expedited entry on the final day. The entry gates closed at 5 p.m., with public darshan concluding by 7 p.m.,” he further explained.

K.S. Latha Kumari, the Deputy Commissioner of Hassan, noted that all arrangements were executed flawlessly under Minister Krishna Byre Gowda's leadership.

Superintendent of Police, Mohammad Sujeetha, reported a substantial influx of devotees throughout the festival's duration. “Initially, 1,500 police officers were deployed for crowd control, which later increased to 2,500. Our primary goal was to guarantee a comfortable darshan experience for ordinary devotees,” she stated.

Poornima B.R., CEO of Hassan Zilla Panchayat, mentioned that VIPs were scheduled to visit during designated time slots. Otherwise, they were required to purchase Rs 1,000 tickets to join other devotees. Authorities also ensured access to drinking water and prasada for devotees enduring long waits. “All needs were attended to, and everything was planned and executed efficiently. It was a team effort,” she added.

The attendance of Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, followed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, amidst ongoing political discussions, has sparked significant discourse.

Recognized as 'South India Vaishno Devi' due to its prominence as a significant Shakti peeth, the Hasanamba Temple enjoys a revered reputation.