End of the Queue-Jumpers: Karnataka Curbs VIP Culture at Hassanamba Festival for All Devotees

In a significant move aimed at fostering equality and restoring faith in public service, the Karnataka government has declared an end to the pervasive 'VIP culture' at the renowned annual Hassanamba festival. This much-anticipated decision, spearheaded by Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, promises to revolutionize the darshan experience for lakhs of devotees who flock to the Hassanamba Temple in Hassan.

For years, the sacred eight-day festival, where the temple opens its doors only once a year, has been overshadowed by complaints of special treatment for VIPs.

Common worshippers often faced extended queues, inconvenience, and frustration as elected representatives and their entourages bypassed the lines, leading to a sense of unfairness. However, those days are now firmly in the past.

Minister Byre Gowda, following extensive consultations with the district administration and the temple committee, announced stringent new guidelines.

Under the revised protocol, access to the sanctum sanctorum will be strictly limited. Only the Chief Minister, the district in-charge minister, and key administrative officials such as the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and Zilla Panchayat CEO will be granted special entry, and that too, only for official duties and a quick darshan without causing disruption.

Crucially, this directive explicitly excludes Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and other public representatives from any form of special privilege or VIP passes.

This bold step underscores the government's commitment to prioritizing the spiritual needs and convenience of the general public over political expediency or social standing. The primary objective is to ensure that every devotee, regardless of their status, has an equal opportunity to offer prayers and experience the divine atmosphere of the festival without unnecessary hurdles.

The Hassanamba festival is a deeply revered event in Karnataka, drawing devotees from across the state and beyond.

By dismantling the structures of preferential treatment, the government hopes to create a more inclusive, orderly, and spiritually fulfilling environment for everyone. This move is being widely applauded as a progressive decision that upholds the principles of equality and demonstrates a genuine concern for the common citizen's experience during religious congregations.