Mysuru: The crowd at the Chamundi Hill temple was as usual even after the state transport strike. The bus strike across the state did not dampen the spirits of the devotees. As a part of Chamundeshwari Vardhanti Mahotsava (birthday of Chamundeshwari) thousands of people including the newly married royal couple Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar and Trishika Kumari gathered to have a darshan of goddess Chamundeshwari here on Tuesday, July 26.

Due to non-availability of KSRTC buses, district administration had arranged 25 private buses to the temple from Lalitha Mahal helipad. Almost all buses were jam packed and people had a tough time. The bus service with Rs 15 per head started at 6am itself. Some of the devotees even reached the temple by climbing 1000 steps. The special puja rituals commenced at 3.30 am with Abhyanjana, Panchamruta abhisheka and Ekadashavara Rudrabhisheka followed by Sahasranama archane and Mahamangalarati.

Pramoda Devi Wodeyar, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and his wife Trishikha Kumari Wadiyar arrived at the temple at 9.30am and offered puja. They launched the procession by pulling the silver palanquin (pallaki). The deity was placed on a decorated palanquin (Addapallakki) and taken in a procession around the temple. Labour Minister Santosh Lad and MLA G.T. Devegowda too performed puja.

Pramoda Devi Wodeyar on the occasion said that Chamundeshwari is the family deity of Yadu dynasty and it was a regular custom to offer puja on this auspicious day every year.

The police had made elaborate security arrangement at the temple.