The Hassan administration has ordered a series of safety, sanitation and accessibility measures for the Hasanamba Temple festival, scheduled from October 29 to November 11, as officials prepare to manage devotees at the temple and nearby transport facilities.
Deputy commissioner KS Latha Kumari reviewed the arrangements at the temple on Friday and directed officials to ensure smooth and hassle-free darshan. The instructions cover the movement of devotees, facilities near the sanctum sanctorum, lighting, surveillance, sanitation and assistance for vulnerable visitors.
Officials have been asked to facilitate comfortable darshan from the courtyard in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Continuous air-conditioning has been ordered for the courtyard, while lighting near the exit is to be improved to support safer movement after devotees complete darshan.
The administration also directed officials to distribute small wooden spoons with prasada and install dustbins at appropriate intervals. A separate counter is to be opened outside the temple to receive madalakki offerings, separating the offering process from the main devotee movement areas.
Temporary toilets are to be provided at the bus stop and railway station, extending festival-related public facilities beyond the temple premises. The arrangements are intended to address the needs of visitors arriving through the town’s key transport points, where crowd movement and waiting periods can increase during the festival.
The deputy commissioner further ordered the installation of additional CCTV cameras and new signboards at the Hasanamba and Siddeshwara Swamy temples. The measures place surveillance and clearer wayfinding alongside crowd-management arrangements, particularly in areas where visitors may need directions between entry, darshan, exit and offering points.
Separate rooms have also been sought for people with disabilities, visitors aged above 80, mothers with children below one year and their companions. The provision is intended to give these groups dedicated spaces during the festival instead of requiring them to remain within general waiting or crowd areas.
The inspection brought together officials from the district administration, police, forest department and municipal corporation. Additional deputy commissioner Krishnamurthy, additional superintendent of police Srinidhi, divisional forest officer Saurabh Kumar, municipal corporation commissioner Krishnamurthy, assistant commissioner Jagadeesh Gangannavar and tahsildar Geetha attended the review.
The directions indicate that festival planning is being handled as a coordinated municipal and district-administration exercise, involving temple access, public toilets, surveillance, signage, waste management and facilities for visitors requiring additional assistance. The arrangements are to be in place for the Hasanamba Temple festival from October 29 to November 11.
