Subrahmanya : Thousands of devotees pulled the Champa Shasti Brahma Ratha at the Kukke Subrahmanya temple in the early morning here on Thursday, Nov 27.

Earlier in the main streets of temple ‘the God Kukke Subrahmany and Umamaheshwara’ image carried out on palanquin utsava. The devotees are intangibles with the peanism in the God’s Ratha Arudha at 7.20 in Vruschika laghna.

The controversial made snana ritual entered its third day at the Kukke Subrahmanya temple has increased on Thursday.

The temple authorities estimate that more than 900 people have participated in the ritual in the last two days. This represents a slight increase from the 800 people who had rolled over plantain leaves last year in the first two days.

‘Made Snana’ is a ritual where devotees of all communities roll over the food leftover of the Brahmins believing that it will cure them of various ailments, especially those related to skin and help overcome miseries.

On the occasion nearly 300 devotess also performed ‘Beedi Made Snana’ where they roll over the ground till the temple after having bath at Kumaradhara River. Around 600 performed Moole Made Snana or Urulu Seve around the sanctum sanctorum.

The increase in devotees participating is significant in the wake of intensifying “awareness rallies” and protests by Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) across the State.

Pics : Shanthala Subrahmanya.