Yellamma temple submerged; devotees offer darshan nearby temple
The famous Yallamma Devi temple, located in the middle of the Bhima River in Mannur village of Afzalpur taluk, is now submerged due to heavy water release from the Ujni reservoir in Maharashtra. Around 1.80 lakh cusecs of water was released, and it reached Kalaburagi district on Friday morning. Because of this, the bridge leading to the temple is under water, with water flowing over it about 10 to 12 feet deep. Almost three-fourths of the temple is underwater. More water is expected, so the temple might be completely submerged soon.
Thousands of devotees who wanted to visit the temple for darshan on the last Amavasya day of the Shravan month are now disappointed. People have been unable to visit the temple for two days, and this restriction might continue for two or three more days. Every year during the rainy season, the bridge floods like this, causing similar problems.
To help devotees, the temple’s sacred sandals (padukas) have been placed near the main gate on the riverbank, where people can have darshan safely. Also, arrangements have been made at another Yallamma Devi temple in the village so devotees can visit there instead. More than 40,000 devotees are expected during Amavasya.
The temple priest, Lakkappa Poojary, has urged everyone to come and have darshan at the alternate temple. Because the flooding happens regularly, villagers and temple management have requested the government to build a new temple, similar to the one at Kudala Sangama, that will always be open for devotees. Mahesh Patti, a leader of the Yellamma Devi Trust, said the bridge floods three times a year and asked the district administration to build a stronger, flood-proof bridge like the one at Kudalasangama.
