Mysuru, June 27 -- Thousands of devotees thronged Goddess Chamundeshwari temple at Chamundi Hill today, as part of the first Ashada Friday Special Puja rituals. Ashada Friday Pujas will be held on three more Fridays - July 4, July 11 and July 18, with the Vardhanti of the presiding deity falling on July 17.

Shashishekar Dixit, the main priest of the Hill temple, led the rituals that began at 3.30 am, with Mahanyasa Purvaka Puja. The temple door was opened for devotees at 5.30 am and will remain open till 10 pm.

Like every year, devotees thronged Lalitha Mahal Palace Grounds, from where the District Administration in association with Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Development Authority, had arranged free KSRTC buses for devotees to the Hillto...