BELAGAVI
As thousands of devotees from Goa prepare to visit the famous Yelamma Temple at Savadatti in Belagavi district to seek blessings of Goddess Renukadevi with the beginning of the New Year, the temple management has advised Goans to refrain from visiting the temple as the district administration has issued prohibitory orders against visiting the temple.
According to an order issued by Belagavi Deputy Commissioner M G Hiremath, the Yelamma temple at Soudatti and Satyamma temple at Jogulbhavi, the most famous temples in Belagavi district, will remain closed till January 31.
“We have a large number of pilgrims from Goa visiting the Yelamma temple at the beginning of the year. However, looking at the huge rush of pilgrims, the temple has been kept closed since the lockdown in March last year. We urge Goans to refrain from visiting the temple as prohibitory orders have been imposed by the administration and the violation would call for action against the violators,” CEO of Yelamma Temple Ravi Kotargasit told The Goan.
Kotargasit said the Yellammadevi annual fair has also been cancelled this year.
“Apart from devotees from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and other neighbouring states, a large number of Goans, including ministers and politicians, from all walks of life visit the Yelamma temple every year.”
“They have strong faith in the Goddess, who is said to have blessed them abundantly. Every year, the number of Goan pilgrims has been increasing, and the temple management has been receiving several calls to throw it open for devotees,” Kotargasit said.
