Devotees on padayatra to Dharmasthala for Shivaratri

Devotees from different parts of the State have set out on a padayatra to Dharmasthala for Shivaratri, on Thursday.

People from all age groups, the majority clad in saffron, walk along the national highway-75 up to Hassan and reach Dharmasthala via Belur, Mudigere, Kottigehara, and Ujire.

The devotees start the padayatra in the wee hours and cover 5 km an hour. “It takes four days to reach the destination,” said Thimmaiah, a resident of Kattehalli near Halebid.

He is part of a group of 150 people from the village. “We start walking around 3 a.m. and break for breakfast and in the afternoon. This is my second padayatra to Dharmasthala,” he said.

The devotees are supported by many philanthropists, who sponsor food all along the route at regular intervals. Members of Stree Shakti Groups form a major chunk of the devotees.

Susheelamma, a devotee, has sponsored food and other facilities for one group consisting of over 150 members. There are many youths too who have taken part for the experience of long-distance walks.

People from Anekal, Dasarahalli in Bangalore, Nagamangala in Mandya district, and villages of Doddaballapur taluk in Chickballapur district have taken part in big numbers.

Those from places close to Dharmasthala start their journey much later than those from far off places.

M.V. Shivaram, a resident of Hassan, said that devotees from places near Bangalore started this practice many years ago. “Every year, the number of devotees is increasing,” he says.