The Hasanamba temple festival in Hassan will begin with the ceremonial opening of the temple doors at noon on Thursday, as the district administration deploys extensive public-safety and civic arrangements for the expected influx of devotees. Officials have arranged drinking water, toilets, medical facilities, German tents, barricades and separate facilities for ticket holders, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
District minister KM Shivalingegowda said the preparations had been completed and that the festival would be inaugurated by Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Math and Siddalinga Swami of Siddaganga Math, Tumakuru. The arrangements place crowd management and basic services at the centre of Hassan’s annual religious gathering, which attracts visitors from across Karnataka.
The police deployment will run from October 30 to November 10, according to IGP (Southern Range) M B Boralingaiah. Around 2,000 police personnel will work in three shifts to manage security, traffic, crowds and the movement of visiting dignitaries. Two superintendents of police will supervise the arrangements, with another officer to be deployed if the crowds increase.
The administration has also planned separate queues and facilities for special-darshan ticket holders, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Special-darshan tickets priced at Rs 300 and Rs 1,000 will continue to be available. The minister rejected demands for a separate darshan facility for local residents, saying the festival draws devotees from across the state and appealing for cooperation.
The temple authorities have agreed to minimise closures of the sanctum during the festival, except during naivedya offerings. Even those closures will be kept shorter, the minister said. The change is intended to reduce interruptions for devotees while retaining the temple’s essential ritual schedule.
The festival programme will follow elements of the Mysuru Dasara model, with illuminated streets, musical nights, cultural programmes and sporting events. Wrestling competitions for men and women will be held at the old exhibition grounds, with more than 450 wrestlers expected to participate. Winners will receive silver maces. Kabaddi, volleyball, cattle exhibitions, rangoli competitions, dog shows and kolata performances are scheduled from October 30.
Chief minister DK Shivakumar, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and other dignitaries are expected to visit Hassan during the celebrations. Helicopter rides and parasailing will not be organised this year, Shivalingegowda said. MP Shreyas Patel said expenditure details would be disclosed after the festival. Police and district officials will continue managing security, traffic, queues and visitor services through the festival period ending on November 10.
