Chikmagalur : As the three-day Datta Jayanthi celebrations will commence in Datta Peeta from Saturday, the district administration has made all arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the programme.

Speaking to mediapersons during his visit to Inam Dattatreya Peeta, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Goyal said that the police department has made all necessary arrangements by deploying 2,600 police personnel to maintain law and order on the occasion of Dattamala Abhiyana and Datta Jayanthi at Inam Dattatreya Peeta at Bababudangiri.

CCTV cameras have been installed at 25 strategic points and check posts have been opened in five places. As many as four additional superintendents of police, 12 DySPs, 16 circle inspectors, 40 sub inspectors, 350 constables, 400 home guards, 12 KSRP platoons, four district reserve police forces have been deployed for the purpose, he said.

In the directive given by Deputy Commissioner B S Shekharappa, he has said that mobile phones, camera, video camera, hidden camera, pen cameras will be banned and devotees can not take it inside the area where ban order has been imposed in Datta Peeta from December 14 to 16.

Devotees will be allowed to view Datta Paduke on December 16 from 8 am to 6 pm. As per the endowment commissioner’s order dated February 25, 1989, performing of religious rituals that were practised prior to 1975, will be allowed at Bababudan Swami Dargah.

Arrangements have been made to provide drinking water, ‘prasadam,’ shed, medical aid, special bus, toilets etc, to devotees.

The vehicle that carries devotees will leave Kaimara checkpost on December 16 at various timings between 7 am and 1 pm. The DC has asked the devotees to co-cooperate with the district administration and the police, to maintain law and order.

The DC along with other officials, visited Datta Peeta and inspected the preparatory arrangements made for the programme.

Ban on alcohol

In the backdrop of Datta Jayanthi celebrations, the deputy commissioner has issued an order banning the sale of alcohol from December 13 midnight to December 16 midnight in Chikmagalur taluk.

It has been ordered to close down all the liquor shops in the taluk, with an intention to maintain law and order during the religious programme. Meanwhile, the DC has also ordered to ban sale of alcohol across the district from December 15 midnight to December 16 midnight.

Ban on loud speakers

Meanwhile, the superintendent of Police has ordered imposing ban on use of loud speakers in vehicles in which devotees wearing Datta Male arrive to participate in Datta Jayanthi.

The use of any kind of flags, camera, mike, mobile phone, match box, cigarette, lighter and other such materials will not be allowed inside Datta Peeta.

The police department has also made arrangements to help the vehicles that break down on the way to Datta Peeta. Those in need of help can contact 9480805131 or 9480805147.

City decked-up

Main streets in Chikmagalur are decked with ‘bhagavadwaja,’ banners and buntings to mark the occasion. All the major circles in the city including Hanumanthappa circle have been covered with saffron flags and buntings. Datta Jayanthi will begin at Inam Dattatreya Peeta by performing Anusuya Devi pooja on Saturday.

Women will carry out ‘Sankeerthana’ procession to mark the inauguration of the programme. Devotees wearing Datta Maale will carry out Shobhayatre (procession) on December 15 and the procession will start at Kamadhenu Ganapathi temple in the city and will pass through Basavanahalli main road, Hanumanthappa Circle, M G Road and reach Azad Maidan, where a public programme will be held.