Mangaluru: The tower-like part of Brahmaratha at the Bappanadu Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple collapsed at the annual Rathotsava festival shortly after midnight on Friday.
The temple is currently celebrating its annual music festival, with Brahmin Maratawa held on Friday as part of the celebration. After the ceremony, the god Utsava Moorthi was placed on a decorative chariot and pulled by the devotee.
According to sources, the parade was only a few meters and one wheel of the chariot was driven away, causing the chariot to stop suddenly. The sudden vibration snatched Ganimara (the main pillar of the chariot) away, causing the entire upper part of Brahmaratha to collapse.
Fortunately, there were no devotees around the chariots, and no priest sitting inside was injured.
The temple authorities quickly brought Vimana Ratha (a smaller chariot) and Rathotsava continued to be uninterrupted. All relevant rituals were carried out as planned.
On Saturday, other events related to the annual music festival were also carried out as planned. The celebration will end on Sunday with Maha Mantrakshate. Videos of the incident are all the rage on social media.
