Youths embark on padayatra to seek divine intervention to find brides in Karnataka

Hundreds of youths went on a padayatra to Male Mahadeshwara Hill in Karnataka and performed a special puja to get married. They offered prayers to God to see that they tie the nuptial knot soon.

Chamrajanagar (Karnataka):Hundreds of youths undertook a padayatra to Male Mahadeshwara Hill, a famous shrine in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. They performed a special puja to Lord Mahadeshwar to see that they get married soon. The people there believe that if unmarried youth walk to the hill and offer prayers to God, they will get married.

In all, 100 unmarried young men from Kodahalli village in Chamarajanagar district walked 160 km for four days and visited Lord Mahadeshwar. They went to the hill and performed a special puja. "Nowadays the children of farmers and labourers are not finding girls to marry. That's why we came on a padayatra and offered prayers to Lord Mahadeshwar to get married. We also offered prayers for rain in the country," said the youth of Kodahalli village.

"This padayatra is taken up by unmarried youths annually. It started with 20 people 11 years ago. Now hundreds of youths are walking and praying to Mahadeshwar to get married," said another youth from Narsipur village.

Thousands of devotees from various districts, including Chamarajanagar, Mysore, Mandya and Bengaluru, go on a padayatra to the Male Mahadeshwara hill every year. Most of them are unmarried youths. They pray that they get married soon. Devotees offer prayers to God for bountiful rains and good crops in the country. Jobless youth also offer prayers to Lord Mahadeshwara.