Hasanamba temple opens October 29; public darshan October 30 to November 10

The Hasanamba temple in Hassan, Karnataka, which opens its sanctum to the public for only a short period once a year, will open on Thursday, October 29, 2026 and stay open until Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Hassan district in-charge minister K.M. Shivalingegowda announced on Tuesday, October 27. Under the temple's usual practice, no public darshan is held on the opening and closing days, so devotees can have darshan from October 30 to November 10. The district plans Dasara-style illumination of Hassan town during the festival, along with cultural events and sports competitions.

Hasanamba is one of Karnataka's best-known shrines to the Goddess. What sets the temple apart is its calendar. According to tradition, the sanctum is opened only once a year and closed again after about two weeks. Because the dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar, they move each year; this year they fall about three weeks later than in 2025.

The short window concentrates a whole year's worth of devotion into a few days. That makes planning by the district administration central to the festival: queues, drinking water, security, parking and the special ticket counters all have to be ready on time. The announcement of illumination, cultural programmes and sports events shows that the district is treating the jatra as a town-wide festival rather than only a temple event. In September, local reports had said the festival might be kept low-key because of drought in the district; the latest announcement points to a fuller celebration.

Ticket pricing has also become a talking point. The temple sells Rs 300 and Rs 1,000 tickets for quicker darshan, while general darshan is free. The Rashtra Rakshana Sene, a local organisation, has proposed a single Rs 2,000 ticket for all paid entry, including VIPs, and better arrangements for devotees. That is a demand by the group, not a decision by the temple or the district.

Short-term: Hassan town expects heavy crowds from October 30, with traffic and parking restrictions likely around the temple. Devotees travelling from Bengaluru and Mysuru can use the KSRTC packages, and hotels and lodges in the town usually see high demand during the festival.

Long-term: The once-a-year opening is a major source of income for local traders, transport operators and the temple, and the way the district handles crowds and ticketing each year shapes how the festival grows.

Who is affected: Devotees across Karnataka and neighbouring states, residents and traders of Hassan town, the district administration and police, and KSRTC.

Before travelling, devotees should check the final darshan timings on the temple's official website or with the district administration, since schedules published by private websites differ in small details.

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