Curative religious rituals for untoward elephant incident during Shivamogga Dasara procession begins

Remedial religious rituals for the untoward incident during the Dasara procession began in Shivamogga, Karnataka, on November 3, 2026.

A series of curative rituals, organised by the Shivamogga City Corporation following the untoward incident during the Dasara celebrations, began on November 3. Priests started the rituals at the Kote Seetharamanjaneya Swamy temple and the Kote Chandika Durgaparameshwari temple in Shivamogga.

During the Dasara procession on October 21, the elephant carrying the howdah with the idol of Chamundeshwari suddenly turned back on the procession path and ran helter-skelter. A portion of the howdah and a few vehicles were damaged in the melee. No casualties were reported.

Soon after the incident, priests and elected representatives of the city sought a ‘religious remedy’.

Shankarananda Jois, priest of the Kote Chandika Durgaparameshwari temple, told The Hindu on November 3 that, following request from people, the Deputy Commissioner wrote to the Endowment Department seeking suggestions.

“We met the seer of the Sringeri Mutt and sought his advice. I also consulted religious texts to find remedies so that such incidents do not recur. We prepared a list of rituals to be performed and also sought the opinion of the pundits of the Endowment Department,” he said.

On the advice of the experts, priests have begun homas and havanas at the two temples. On the first day, Mahasankalpa, Vishwaksena Puja and Navagraha Puja were held at the Kote Seetharamanjaneya temple. At the Kote Chandika Durgaparameshwari temple, the rituals included Mahaganapati Puja, Mahasankalpa, Punyahavachana, Ritvigvarana, Kushmanda Prayashchitta Homa, and Shannarikela Ashta Dravya Mahaganapati Homa.

“The homas and havanas will continue until November 7,” the priest said.

Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa, City Corporation Commissioner Mayanna Gowda and others took part in the mahasankalpa in the morning.