By Kishore Peraje

Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Nov 4: Thousands of devotees lit small oil lamps before the deity at Tirumala Venkataramana Temple to the accompaniment of Bhajans amidst the chirping of birds in the mist-shrouded early morning, with the sound of water from the Netravati River, flowing in the background.

The Vishwa Roopa Darshana was held at Tirumala Venkataramana Temple in Bantwal on the morning of Sunday November 2.

Chief temple priest Srinivas Bhat offered ‘pooja’ to Tirumala Venkataramana at the auspicious time of 4.30 am and set in motion the programme by lighting lamps around the ‘Tulasi’ plant outside the temple.

The devotees also joined in to light thousands of lamps. Children, women, and elderly people lit the lamps together and subsequently stood in queue to get a glimpse of the deity.

Well-known Hindustani singer Dr Sampada Bhat, film background singers Seema and Raikar presented a melodious ‘Jugalbandi’ that enthralled the devotees present there.

District-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai and temple managing trustees also participated in the programme. Sweet ‘Laddus’ were distributed to everybody after the ‘Darshan’. Devotees were seen waiting in the queue from morning till 7 pm for a glimpse of the deity.