Hasanamba Temple draws lakhs of devotees

Devotees at the Hasanamaba Temple in Hassan during the annual festival.

The Hasanamba Temple in Hassan continues to draw thousands of devotees every day. Since October 29, when the temple was opened to mark the start of the Hasanamba festival, more than 20.30 lakh people from different parts of the State and outside have had darshan of the deity.

Hassan Assistant Commissioner Jagadish Gangannavar, who is also the temple’s administrator, said the footfall this year could touch 30 lakh. “Nearly two lakh people are visiting the temple every day, and the number went up to 2.8 lakh on holidays and weekends,” he said.

Last year, more than 26 lakh devotees visited the temple, and the administration collected about ₹25.59 crore through the sale of special entry tickets and laddus, besides offerings to the hundi. This year, with four days of the festival still left, the collection from the sale of tickets and laddus alone has reached ₹14.74 crore, according to an official communiqué from the district administration.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will visit the temple on Sunday to have darshan of the deity. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy will also visit the temple the same day.

The historic temple is open to devotees only during the annual festival. The doors will be closed on November 11.