Chariot Top Collapses During Festival at Karnataka’s Bappanadu Temple, No Injuries Reported
A portion of the ceremonial ratha fell during the Brahmarathotsava celebration in Mulki, as thousands of devotees participated in the annual event.
Mulki, Karnataka: A dramatic mishap occurred during the Brahmarathotsava at Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple on Saturday when the top section of a ceremonial chariot collapsed mid-procession. The incident took place in Mulki, located in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district, and was caught on camera. The video quickly circulated online, drawing attention to the accident.
The collapse happened around 2 PM while the temple’s priests were seated inside the ratha. According to Deccan Herald, the rope used to maneuver the chariot reportedly snapped, leading to the upper structure crashing to the ground. Despite the sudden disruption, no injuries were reported, and the event continued without further issues.
ಬಪ್ಪನಾಡು ಶ್ರೀದುರ್ಗಾಪರಮೇಶ್ವರಿ ದೇವಳದ ರಥೋತ್ಸವ ಅದ್ಧೂರಿಯಾಗಿ ಸಾಗಿತ್ತು. ರಥ ಬೀದಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಥೋತ್ಸವ ಸಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ವೇಳೆ ತೇರಿನ ಮೇಲ್ಭಾಗ ಏಕಾಏಕಿ ಕುಸಿದಿದೆ. ತೇರಿನ ಮೇಲ್ಬಾಗ ಕುಸಿದ ವೇಳೆ ಅರ್ಚಕರು ತೇರಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಇದ್ದರು, ಅದೃಷ್ಟವಶಾತ್ ಯಾವುದೇ ಅಪಾಯ ಉಂಟಾಗದೆ ಪಾರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ.@XpressBengaluru pic.twitter.com/vPdyI8w961
— kannadaprabha (@KannadaPrabha) April 19, 2025
Eyewitness videos show the moment the chariot’s top crumbled, causing brief panic among the thousands of devotees who had gathered to pull the sacred vehicle as part of the festival rituals.
About Bappanadu Temple:
Situated along the banks of the Shambhavi River in Bappanadu village, near Mulki town (about 29 km from Mangaluru), the Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple is renowned for its communal harmony and historical significance. The presiding deity is Goddess Shree Durgaparameshwari. As per local legend, the temple was built with the involvement of a Muslim merchant named Bappa, reflecting the region’s syncretic heritage. The Brahmarathotsava, held annually in April, draws thousands of devotees from across the region.