The historical Cheluvanarayana Swamy Vairamudi Utsava, was celebrated amid Covid-19 restrictions, in a simple manner at Melkote, Mandya district on Wednesday.
Though parts of Melkote town, Rajabeedhi was decorated with flowers and illuminated with colourful lights as part of Vairamudi Brahmotsava, the number of devotees were less this year, due to Covid restrictions.
The district administration had banned the entry of devotees from other districts and states, as a precautionary measure. Mass feeding, distribution of prasada has also been banned.
The presiding deity Cheluvanarayana Swamy, adorned with diamond-studded crown, was placed in the palanquin and taken out on a procession amid the chantings of the devotees. The Vairamudi Brahmotsava was launched with a special puja at the Ramanujacharya temple.
The Vairamudi and other golden ornaments kept in the district treasury was brought out in the presence of Deputy Commissioner S Aswathi. Later, puja was performed for the box at Lakshmi Janardhana temple in Mandya, and later sent to Melkote amid tight police security in a special vehicle.
The jewellery was handed over to the temple authorities in the presence of District In-charge Minister K C Narayana Gowda, Deputy Commissioner S Aswathi and Superintendent of Police Ashwini.