Karnataka: Hassan dargah offers food, place for Shiva devotees

HASSAN: For the second consecutive year, a dargah in Hassan district is offering free food and accommodation, besides opening up its kitchen, for thousands of devotees walking to Sri Manjunatheshwara temple in Dharmasthala from different parts of the state on the occasion of Shivaratri to be celebrated on Tuesday.
Every year, thousands of devotees reach the temple located on the Netravati banks in Dakshina Kannada district by walking for hundreds of kilometers.They need to cross either Charmadi Ghat in Dakshina Kannada or Shiradi Ghat in Hassan district to reach the shrine. On the way, the devotees are offered cold drinks, food and fruits in many villages and towns.

The managing committee of Sakaleshpur's Manjrabad Dargah has allowed devotees to prepare food at the kitchen of the community hall, besides offering accommodation, restroom and other facilities. The dargah is on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway.
Though requests have been coming in to book the community hall for marriages and other social events, the dargah managing committee said they would not rent out the premises on Sunday and Monday because they are committed to hosting Shiva devotees.
"The number of padayatris (devotees going to the shrine by foot) is more this year. The number is expected to further go up on Monday. We're offering cold drinks and fruits to the padayatris here," said dargah managing committee president Malnad Mehaboob.
KA Hasainar Anemahal, general secretary of the dargah and a member of Anemahal gram panchayat, said they want to help devotees walking for hundreds of kilometres. Sakaleshpur deputy superintendent of police Anil Kumar said the dargah has urged devotees to take rest for some time and then resume their journey towards Dharmasthala.