Thousands of devotees witness the sacred event with joy and devotion
The sacred Cauvery Theerthodhbhava took place at Talacauvery at 1:44 p.m. during Makara lagna, amid great joy and devotion among thousands of devotees. Offerings such as Kumkumarchane, Pushparchane, and fruits were made to the sacred Brahmakundike. Traditional poojas were performed to Goddess Cauvery Matha by temple priests.
Thousands of devotees eagerly awaited this once-a-year sacred moment from early morning, breaking through police barricades in their eagerness to witness the divine event.
The ceremony marked the beginning of the month-long Cauvery Sankramana festival at the holy site. Devotees from various parts of the state were seen chanting “Jai Jai Mate Kaveri” as they walked barefoot in traditional attire from Bhagamandala to Talacauvery in the early hours.
Virajpet MLA and Chief Minister’s Legal Advisor, Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna, participated in the Cauvery Theerthodhbhava. After offering prayers at the Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple in Bhagamandala, he walked to the Talacauvery shrine, accompanied by his wife Kanchan Ponnanna, his elder brother Ajjikuttira Narain Cariappa, and thousands of devotees.
The MLA couple, who reached the Talacauvery temple barefoot, were overjoyed when the sacred water emerged from the Brahmakundike at 1:44 p.m. They performed special poojas in the temple and at the Brahmakundike along with other dignitaries, praying for peace, prosperity, harmony, and the progress of the nation. After receiving Annaprasadam at the mass feeding held at the Talacauvery temple, the MLA personally served food to devotees.
The MLA honoured dignitaries who participated in the event with personal mementos. On their way back, the MLA and his wife visited the free public food distribution centre organized by the Gajanana Yuvaka Sangha in Bhagamandala, where they personally served food to devotees along with the Sangha’s office bearers.
Among those present were Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda, Kodagu District Guarantee Implementation Authority Chairman Dharmaja Uthappa, Karnataka Sports Authority Vice Chairman Arun Machaiah, MP Yaduveer Wadiyar, former MLC Veena Achaiah, film actors Bhuvan Ponnanna and Harshika Poonacha, department officials, Congress party leaders, activists, dignitaries, and thousands of devotees of Goddess Cauvery.
Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja, Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, Additional Deputy Commissioner R. Aishwarya, Additional Executive Officer of Sri Bhagandeshwara – Talacauvery Temple N. G. Chandrashekar, temple head Kodi U. Motaiah, various mutt heads, and other officials were also present to witness the sacred moment.
MP Yaduveer Wadiyar graced the occasion dressed in the traditional attire of the Mysore royal family. He walked barefoot, wearing a Mysore turban, from Bhagamandala to Talacauvery, a distance of eight kilometres, accompanied by several BJPÂ leaders and members.
Actors Harshika Poonacha and Bhuvan Ponnanna also walked eight kilometres barefoot from Bhagamandala to Talacauvery with their one-year-old daughter, Tridevi Ponnanna. Speaking on the occasion, Bhuvan shared that the couple had vowed to make the pilgrimage barefoot to express gratitude for the birth of their healthy child. He added that fulfilling this vow was a deeply emotional moment for their family.
Bhuvan Ponnanna is currently playing the lead role in a new film directed by Yogaraj Bhat, while Harshika Poonacha is also working on a new project. The couple described their daughter’s birth as a new ray of hope in their lives, which inspired their participation in the Theerthodhbhava this year.
In an interesting coincidence, passengers on a British Airways flight that landed at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, at 5:30 a.m. on the day of the Cauvery Theerthodhbhava were pleasantly surprised when the pilot extended greetings on behalf of the airline, acknowledging the sacred occasion. The pilot, Padiyanda Deepak, a native of Kodagu, expressed his excitement while informing passengers about the holy event taking place in Kodagu that afternoon.
