Hasanamba Temple Festival Faces Crowd Management and Pricing Disputes

The Hasanamba Temple in Shivamogga opened to the public on Thursday, attracting thousands of visitors by Friday. Many attendees began lining up before dawn, though some reported waiting several hours to reach the sanctum despite expectations of a shorter process.

Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda expressed strong opposition to the current pricing of laddu prasada. He argued that the temple should not profit from these offerings and suggested the administration cover costs through government channels instead of charging visitors higher rates.

Administrative preparations for the festival have drawn criticism from various officials. MLC Suraj Revanna alleged that he was excluded from planning discussions, while social media users questioned the necessity of a musical program held during the festival, citing the state's ongoing drought conditions.