At Karnataka’s Sirsi Marikamba Temple, Selfie Bus Serves As The Perfect Tourist Attraction

Sirsi Marikamba Temple Jatra Mahotsav is dedicated to Goddess Durga. Also known as Marikamba, it commenced from March 19 in Karnataka. This festival is known as the biggest Marikamba fair in the state and will continue till tomorrow (March 27). As per the Local 18 Kannada, North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has launched an innovative dummy vehicle titled selfie bus. This step has been taken to ensure that there remains a large number of Goddess Marikamba devotees at the venue. The selfie bus has been manufactured at the Sirsi depot and serves as a tourist attraction for the Goddess Marikamba followers.

The spare parts of this bus have been made using the iron and the plates. To present it as a life-sized structure, seats have also been installed. In addition to this characteristic, various modifications have been made in this dummy bus and has intrigued the crowd. The passengers are having the best time of their lives by sitting in the bus and posing for selfies.

An idol of the Goddess Marikamba has been installed at the top of the bus that adds to the beauty of the bus. The officials present at the Sirsi Marikamba Temple Jatra Mahotsav said that this step has been taken to ensure that the people enjoy their visit here.

A temple known as Doddamma Temple was also established in Karnataka to extend prayers to the Goddess Marikamba. This temple was built in 1688 with the name Doddamma Temple denoting the elder sister of all Mariammas in Karnataka. The central idol in this temple is an eight-armed idol of Durga, also known by the names Renuka and Yellamma.

The name of the Goddess Marikamba is derived from Mari (terror) and Maremma (saviour). As per the popular beliefs, the goddess is Mari (terror) in anger and mother in love that gives her the name Marikamba.

According to local legends, the wooden statue of Goddess Marikamba, the deity worshipped in Uttara and Dakshina Kannada, was found in a tank on the outskirts of the town. In 1611, Sadashiva Rao II, the King of Sonda, gave orders to place the wooden deity at this tank. It is considered to be the biggest idol and the site devoted to Marikamba in Karnataka.