Hasanamba temple in Hassan opens its doors today for its once-a-year darśana, with over 30 lakh devotees expected
The sanctum opens at 12.21 pm on Thursday, but the public will be let in only from Friday.
- The Hindu
- The Times of India
- Deccan Herald
The doors of the Hasanamba temple in Hassan open on Thursday, beginning the Hasanamba Jatra Mahotsava that runs until November 11, the only period each year when devotees can have darśana of the goddess, The Hindu reported. Deccan Herald said the sanctum will be opened at the auspicious time of 12.21 pm, and that more than 30 lakh devotees are expected during the 13-day festival.
The public will not be admitted on the first day, and darśana for devotees begins on Friday, according to The Hindu. District in-charge Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda said Nirmalanandanatha Swami of the Adichunchanagiri Math and Siddalinga Swami of the Siddaganga Math will inaugurate the festival, The Times of India reported.
He said priests had agreed to keep closures of the sanctum to a minimum, except briefly during naivedya offerings. Special darśana tickets of ₹300 and ₹1,000 will continue, and the minister rejected demands for separate darśana for local residents.
The administration has fixed 10.30 am to 12.30 pm daily for VIPs with protocol. IGP (Southern Range) M.B. Boralingaiah said 2,000 police personnel will work in three shifts from October 30 to November 10, with CCTV cameras and a control room near the temple.
A German tent runs from the Hassan CMC to the temple, with separate entrances for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and mothers with infants. South Western Railway will run special express trains between KSR Bengaluru and Hassan daily, 14 trips each way, plus MEMU trains from Arsikere.
Hassan's streets have been lit in the style of Mysuru Dasara, with cultural programmes, wrestling and other events from October 30.
Key data
Festival 29 Oct to 11 Nov 2026 (13 days); doors open 12.21 pm; 30 lakh+ devotees expected; 2,000 police in three shifts; tickets ₹300 and ₹1,000; 14 special train trips each way.
Why it matters
For devotees across Karnataka this is a rare yearly chance to see the goddess, and how smoothly a crowd of this size is handled will shape trust in the State's management of big temple festivals.
GK: did you know?
Hassan city takes its name from the goddess Hasanamba, and tradition holds that the lamp lit when the sanctum is closed keeps burning until it reopens a year later.
