Madikeri: Thousands of devotees took a holy dip in the Kundike on the auspicious occasion of Theerthodbhava at Talacauvery at 11.44 pm yesterday.

Devotees from the neighbouring States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu too thronged the venue to witness this auspicious occasion, apart from the Karnataka devotees.

The chanting of Govinda … Govinda … by the devotees rent the misty air atop the hill-shrine as they immersed themselves in the holy waters and collected the same in pot and cans to be taken home and distributed amongst those who could not make it to Talacauvery.

The office-bearers of the Temple Committee and the Police had a tough time in controlling the frenzied crowd.

Earlier in the day, jewelleries were brought from Bhagandesh-wara temple in Bhagamandala to Talacauvery in an elaborate procession. The Goddess was decorated with ornaments and flowers.

Religious rituals were performed by temple priests Ana-nath Krishnachar, Ramakrishnachar, Shankarachar, Prashanthachar and others.

The Temple Committee had arranged ‘annadana’ (mass feeding) at Talacauvery. Mandya Annasantharpana Samiti, Chettiyar Group, Hindu Jagarana Vedike, Virajpet Kodava Samaja Sangha and other organisations too offered ‘annadana’ outside the temples in Talacauvery and Bhagamandala