Special pujas mark Mahashivaratri celebrations across NK region

Devotees line up outside the Shiva Temple in Malmaruti Extension during Mahashivaratri celebrations in Belagavi on Sunday. | Photo Credit: PK BADIGER

Mahashivaratri was celebrated in the North Karnataka region. Special pujas were organized in various temples in various cities and villages.

A huge crowd of devotees thronged Sadguru Sri Siddharoodha Swamy’s Shivaratri Jatra Mahotsav in Hubballi on Sunday.

While devotees from across the country came on foot and in vehicles and chanted slogans like Sri Siddharoodha Maharajki Jai, members of many organizations also served them by distributing water and fruit slices.

The past seers paid tribute to the Samadhis of Sri Siddharoodha and Sri Gurunatharudha.

Sri Siddharoodha Swamy Rathotsava will be held on Monday.

Mahashivaratri puja programs were organized in various temples. Mahashivaratri vigil was held at Sri Ramalingeshwara Temple in Unkal. Thousands of devotees participated.

KLE Society president Prabhakar Kore offers puja during his visit to Sri Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna for Mahashivaratri celebrations on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL EDITING

Devotees arrived at the historic Chandramouleshwara Temple in Unkal and stood in a queue since morning to take darshan.

Devotees turned up in large numbers at the Ishwar Temple on Railway Station Road in Hubballi.

They offered dates, Holige and Kadubu and fruits. Bhajans are performed day and night.

Rituals were also held at Budanagudda Basavanna Devara Temple.

Various rituals were held at Someshwar Temple in Dharwad. Devotees wearing traditional attire carried offerings of milk, water and bael leaves.

Many people fasted during the day and sang hymns in the evening. Some Mahila Mandals organized bhajan singing and dance programs in the temple premises. Celebrations were also held at Mudi Maruti Temple in Mangalwarpeth.

Long queues of devotees formed in front of temples in Belagavi. Police cordoned off the area around Sri Kapileshwar Temple.

Leaders visited temples. KLE Society president Prabhakar visited Sri Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna, Korea. He said that he had been going to the temple with his father and family members since his childhood. His friends like Srikant Virgi, Anil Bagi, Bharat Banavane, Ajit Desai, Vijay Jadhav, Ashok Ghorpade, Suresh Patil and others were there.

Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, her son Mrunal Hebbalkar and her brother and MLC Channaraj Hattiholi visited the Kapileshwar Temple. He said he prayed for the welfare of the state.

Religious programs were conducted with great devotion and magnificence at Shivalaya, located within the KLE Society campus.

In the morning, special rituals including Maha Rudrabhishek were performed according to traditional customs.

KLE Society directors Mahantesh Kavatagimath and Preeti Kore Dodawad, Vice-Chancellor SS Mahantashetti, Principal Rajesh Pawar and Temple Committee Chairman Vishwanath Pattan Shetty and others were present on the occasion. The rituals were conducted by high priest Vedamurthy Shankaraya Hiremath.

MLA Shashikala Jolle and her husband and former MP Anna Saheb Jolle visited Sri Mahadev Mandir in Nippani.