Panchamaharathotsava was held with traditional gaiety and fervour this morning. However, probably for the first time in the history of the famed event, the pulling of the main Gowthama Ratha was delayed for more than two hours as the ropes tied to the chariot snapped. The incident led to disappointment among devotees and they blamed officials for the lapse.
This morning, thousands of devotees volunteered to pull the century-old wooden Gowthama Ratha carrying the main idol of Lord Srikanteshwara. All these years, devotees used to pull the main chariot around the temple after performing puja in the auspicious Meena Lagna between 7.15 am and 8 am. But this year, the chariot did not move when two of the ropes among the three tied to it snapped as the devotees were pulling the chariot.
Due to this, over 140 devotees, who were pulling the chariot, fell down and Assistant Executive Officer of the Temple Gangaiah sustained minor injuries in the incident. He was rushed to a private hospital.