Hasanamba Temple draws thousands of devotees

Devotees gathering at the Hasanamba Temple in Hassan on Thursday, marking the commencement of the annual festival. | Photo Credit: Prakash Hassan

The Hasanamba Temple, opened to devotees on Thursday as part of the Hasanamba festival, drew thousands of people on Friday. Many of them, particularly residents of Hassan, began queuing as early as 4 a.m. for darshan of the deity.

Devotees who bought ₹300 entry tickets also had to wait three to four hours to reach the sanctum sanctorum. Senior officials, including Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lathakumari and Superintendent of Police Shubhanwita, were seen managing the crowd.

Those in the queue recalled the arrangements made last year under the leadership of Krishna Byre gowda. While they appreciated this year’s arrangements, they said the queue moved very slowly. The district administration had promised darshan within half an hour, but failed to keep that promise, they said. Last year, they added, devotees had darshan in far less time.

They said last year, the devotees could have the darshan of the deity in less time compared to the duration they spent this year. 

Laddu sale

Meanwhile, Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda objected to the sale of laddu prasada at ₹100 each. He visited the stall where the laddus were being sold and expressed serious displeasure. He said the laddu contract had been awarded to ISKCON, which supplied them at around ₹56 each, and the temple administration should sell them at the same price without making a profit.

The Minister said he would stage a dharna himself if the laddus continued to be sold at an exorbitant price. Speaking to the media, he said the administration was not there to make a profit from laddus. “If there are additional expenses, the deity will look after us. We will somehow arrange funds from the government through the Muzrai Department. But we are not ready to make the public pay more for prasada,” he said.

Objection

Among the elected representatives who visited the temple on the day included former Minister A. Manju and MLC Suraj Revanna. 

Mr. Suraj Revanna alleged that he had received no meeting notice or phone call about the festival preparations. “I will raise the issue in the Legislative Council,” he said. He recalled that when Mr. Byre Gowda was the Minister in-charge of Hassan, he held meetings in both Bengaluru and Hassan and invited him to them. This time, he alleged, there had been no communication at all.

Music programme

On Thursday, the first day of the festival, the district administration organised a musical programme at Hemavathi Statue Circle to mark the inauguration. A rapper performed popular songs. Mr. Shivalinge Gowda, MP Shreyas Patel, Ms. Lathakumari and others attended. The Deputy Commissioner was seen dancing to popular Kannada film songs with the youth participating in the event.

Interestingly, during the preparations Mr. Shivalinge Gowda had said the administration would avoid unnecessary expenditure, as the State was facing severe drought. The music programme drew mixed reactions on social media. While some appreciated the event, others questioned whether it was necessary when farmers were struggling with drought.

Published - October 30, 2026 06:20 pm IST