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Last Friday was the first Ashada Friday of this year and like every year there was lot of expectations from the devotees of Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi Hill in city about the people - friendly arrangements to go to the temple and offer prayers inside the temple.

I have been a witness to this religious event in city for the past 33 years, having personally visited the temple on such occasions. Sadly every year the devotees' expectations were belied either by the local administration or by the District In - charge Minister, whenever such office existed under political patronage.

Ramdas, Sunil Agrawal, Shankare Gowda and Vishnuvardhan

There would be heavy rush of vehicular traffic on Ashada Fridays beginning even before the break of dawn, from 3 am itself, to ward off the later rush both for parking and to enter the temple. If one is late, that is after 6 am, the vehicles would have to be parked along the road almost a kilometre away from the temple and walk - up the distance. And the parking would be so hap-hazard one should be lucky if he could identify and extricate his vehicle from the parked area. Cases of theft of vehicles and accidents used to be as on New Year's Eve in big cities.

It used to be a chaotic sight. Vehicles would be seen moving up on that narrow, serpentine road skirting the rolling hills in such speed as if Goddess Chamundeshwari was about to leave the temple on another engagement like our Ministers. Hence the hurry. In the same way vehicles of all types — two - wheelers, cars and buses, even rickshaws — would be speeding down as if they would miss the breakfast at home or be late to office, work place or school. And the devotees were not wrong. It used to be an ordeal to drive to the temple, enter the temple, offer prayers, exit the temple and drive down to the city. Like the Englishman complaining about the bad weather but doing nothing about it [who could?], here too everybody complained, including those who could solve the problem — the local authority and the District In-charge Minister, but they did nothing.

This year for the first time the chaotic situation of the past on Ashada Fridays at Chamundi Hill temple changed completely leaving the people smiling and in wonder as to how this miracle could happen. Thanks to the District In - charge Minister S. A. Ramdas. For once he has proved that if there is a political will there is always a way to solve people's problems.

This year, having read so much about the new, innovative plans to manage the Ashada Friday rush of thousands of people to the Hill temple, I decided to survey the areas critical under the new plan. I went to the helipad at about 5 am and the area was abuzz with activities. The Police, surprisingly not many, were there directing thousands of two - wheelers and hundreds of cars to the parking areas that were perfectly earmarked, with easy entry and exit points in place. The traffic was so well regulated; the drivers were seen smiling and co - operating with the cops without any of the common scenes on such occasions of screaming, scowling, swearing, grumbling both on the part of the Police and the public.

The ground arrangements too were good with proper barricading, shelter, drinking water, ticket counter for puja at the temple and a public announcement system that gave information to the people in a patronising, clear, persuasive voice, not blaring as in a village jatra. There was a Diesel Generator Set mounted on a vehicle to provide proper lighting that added to the drivers' comfort.

One most redeeming feature of this arrangement at the helipad area was that the asphalted area, the helipad proper, was completely barricaded and not used at all for parking purpose. I am sure, with over 30 buses entering and leaving from the asphalted area every five or ten minutes this would have got totally damaged by evening. All the vehicles, two - wheelers, cars and buses were out – of - bounds here. Very thoughtful of the Traffic Police.

However, when I went there yesterday, the day after the event, there were lot of trash and plastic bags, cups etc. needing to be cleared. The City Corporation might pay attention to this.

As for the arrangement at the temple premises, there was much to be appreciated but only in comparison to last year and the years past. The buses were parked one behind the other along the road close to the bus stand. There were no two - wheelers or cars or tourist coaches except a few that were allowed with passes, apart from the Police vehicles. The old parking lots were done-up to facilitate easy parking and movement by vehicles with proper lighting, water, toilets and a temporary shelter to distribute prasada in an orderly manner for those who do not go for Dasoha — mass feeding centre near the temple.

For the first time I wowed looking at the area surrounding the statue of Mahishasura — so spacious, clear of petty shops to the east and only a few sauntering, like me. I wish that area could be kept that way for always. As for the eateries in this area, the authorities could consider providing them a uniform structure with Hindu temple architectural facade, under certain guidelines related to health and hygiene. The present ramshackle, chaotic line - up of these eateries and shops make the area crowded, dirty, noisy and abhorring to visitors. By the way, it is time a good, modern Bus Stand, well asphalted and with a building is constructed here. Now it is just a piece of land which we call bus stand.

The arrangements around the temple as also inside the temple seemed better than last year but left much to be desired. However, having seen many Hindu temples, I guess the throng in front of the deity in the sanctum - sanctorum, is always crushing on special occasions like here as Ashada Fridays. Well, you may take it as Hindu way of offering prayers in a temple, yet there is scope for streamlining devotee - flow into this area. But happily the temple campus was not crowded, as I saw in the evening, giving the visitor a nice feeling of being liberated from pick - pockets and beggars. The shop - keepers though grumbled about this new arrangement for poor business.

Indeed the Police Officers, specially ACP Shankare Gowda (Traffic) and ACP Vishnuvardhan (Law & Order) who were seen all through the night and day supervising the arrangement, deserve special appreciation. I learn this Ashada Friday there were less number of accidents, crimes and complaints compared to the previous year and this speaks eloquently about the good job well done by our City Police Commissionerate. Let us hope the same system will be in place for the remaining Ashada Fridays also.

I understand that arrangements for the climbers and “creepers” to and from the temple via 1,000 steps from near the Suttur Mutt is very good. Thanks to the Chief Minister's original intention to climb the steps to the temple which was given up at the last moment. Let us hope the arrangement would, however, continue to be there for the remaining days of the Ashada Friday.

I hear that there are some devotees, used to travelling only in cars, waiting for relaxation of the ban during the last Ashada Friday or for special pass to take the car. Best of luck.

And when everything is going hunky - dory there must be a politician to strike a discordant note. And sadly we find him in former MLA M. K. Somashekar, a good man otherwise. A day before the Ashada Friday, he was furious about the ban of private vehicles to Chamundi Hill and held a demonstration of motley crowd near Lalitha Mahal Helipad Gate.

His all important reasons — people who have purchased new vehicles wish to take the vehicles to the temple for puja and this is made not possible by the ban. Similarly, the newlyweds, honeymooners and tourists from outside the city would be inconvenienced.

And one more reason — the decision was taken by Ramdas without consulting other elected representatives. Somashekar, however, is not an elected representative.

Well, well, well, we the many thousands of devotees of Goddess Chamundeshwari are not convinced.

No politics please, we are Mysoreans.