Devotees thronged Lord Ayyappa’s temple in Hubli, Karnataka in large numbers on Friday in the wake of the Niraputhari ritual and Chingam festivities this week. Devotees to Kerala's Ayyappa temple had been advised by authorities to refrain from visiting the shrine due to heavy rainfall and floods. As the main temple was inaccessible, devotees thronged the Hubli Lord Ayyappa shrine in Karnataka.