Hassan: A record-breaking crowd of devotees thronged the Hasanamba Temple in Hassan for darshan this weekend, forcing police to issue an urgent safety warning and suspend special bus services after fears of a possible stampede.
By Saturday evening, officials estimated that over 19 lakh devotees had already visited the temple since it opened, with 3.7 lakh pilgrims recorded on Friday alone. However, the unprecedented rush has left local authorities stretched, prompting Superintendent of Police Mohammed Sujeetha M S to write to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) requesting a halt to special bus operations bringing additional devotees into the city.
“The available space for crowd management is inadequate. The queues have extended beyond the barricades, and further arrivals could create a dangerous situation,” the SP warned in his letter. Following his note, the DC ordered an immediate suspension of special bus services to the temple.
Darshan Timings and Crowd Control Measures
District authorities have announced that darshan queues will close at 9 p.m. and temple entry will end by midnight tonight, to allow temple staff and police to reset arrangements for the next day.
“We request devotees not to come between midnight and 5 a.m.,” officials clarified.
JDS Protests Over “Insult” to Kumaraswamy
Meanwhile, a political storm erupted after JDS leaders alleged that Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was “disrespected” during his visit for darshan. Party workers staged a protest at the temple entrance, breaking through barricades and blocking the road, accusing the administration of denying protocol to the minister.
Tension escalated until Deputy Commissioner Latha Kumari arrived at the scene and held talks with JDS leaders, including former minister A. Manju, who questioned the treatment of Kumaraswamy. The DC reportedly clarified the situation and later sent prasadam to the JDS leaders as a gesture of goodwill, ending the standoff.
Film Celebrities and Leaders Offer Prayers
Amid the chaos, actor Shivarajkumar and his wife, as well as filmmaker Rishab Shetty and his spouse, offered prayers at the temple. Congress MLA Narendra Swamy and MP Dr. C.N. Manjunath also paid their respects to Goddess Hasanamba.
The annual darshan, which attracts lakhs of devotees from across Karnataka, continues to test the administration’s crowd control measures, with the Congress government facing both logistical and political pressure as the festival reaches its peak.
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