The Mysuru royal family has fenced off the Lalitha Mahal Grounds, a site traditionally used to park vehicles of devotees visiting Chamundi Hills during Ashada Fridays. Tens of thousands of devotees visit the temple every Friday during Ashadamasa.
The district administration has been forced to identify an alternative site for parking and other arrangements ahead of the annual Ashada festivities, which will begin in mid-July. According to temple chief priest N Shashishekar Dixit, the Ashada celebrations will begin on July 17 this year.
To avoid traffic congestion atop the hills, the district administration has been arranging parking facilities for devotees at the Lalitha Mahal Grounds on Fridays for the past decade. However, this year, the royal family has fenced the grounds, stating that it is private property.
Deputy commissioner G Lakshmikantha Reddy was unavailable for comment. Commissioner of police Seema Latkar said details will be shared once the district administration finalises the arrangements. The issue is expected to create logistical challenges for authorities as preparations gather pace.