Devotees beam in celestial splendour

BANGALORE: It was an end to the year-long wait of devotees. Chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ reverberated at the Gavi Gangadhareshwara (Shiva) temple in Gavipuram when the celestial light passed through the horns of Nandi (the lord's mount) and fell on the linga in the sanctum sanctorum.
The divine experience was worth the wait. Amid the ring of bells and prayer-chanting, the priest poured milk over the linga.The light struck the linga at 5.14pm and devotees plunged into spiritual bliss for four minutes.
“I have been visiting the temple for 45 years. I feel more spiritually connected every time I visit this place. The lord residing here is special to the people of Karnataka,” said C Ramegowda, resident of Gavipuram.
There is a belief that the event happens as the Sun God visits the temple to pay tribute to Lord Shiva. “The auspicious moment holds a special place in our hearts. I have been visiting the temple to witness this phenomenon for the past 15 years. The rays fall on the linga through an opening, but the fact that it happens only once in a year is amazing,” said Yellappa V, a devotee.
The temple witnessed an overflowing crowd, including youths. “We are in Bangalore for the first time to be part of the event. It’s a positive experience and we were overjoyed after we saw it on the big screen,” said D Sunaina, another devotee.
The temple had two big screens to provide devotees with a better view of the celestial phenomenon.
CM eats pongal, neer dosa
Chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda celebrated Sankranti by visiting Halli Mane in Malleswaram where he had Pongal, Neer Dosa and Kadubu.