Giant vehicle to be consecrated on Monday

The Reddy brothers are not the only ones given expensive over-the-top displays of devotion.

Call it an attempt to repent his past, or a ploy to impress voters, taking cue from his political friends, former don, Muthappa Rai, who floated the Jaya Karnataka political party recently, will offer a Rs 1.5 crore chariot on Monday to to his favourite Hindu deity Lord Shiva.

Biggest chariot

But that is not where it ends. Rai, who has been camping in Puttur since 17 March, plans to shell out over Rs 2 crore on a five-day grand festival that will mark the offering of what is being touted as the biggest chariot in Asia at the popular Mahalingeshwara temple.

Muthappa Rai who recently embarked on a new political journey would expect the chariot to help him on the road ahead.

Prakash Rai, a relative of the don-turned-politician, confirmed that the chariot was being offered. "Yes, Muthappa is offering a chariot to lord Shiva. In fact, he will make the offering on March 22," said Prakash.

Grand wheels

After the chariot or Brhamaratha, which is being given final touches in Puttur, is readied, it will stand at 71 feet, and weigh 40 ton.

The chariot, which is to have fine carvings on it based on Hindu mythology, is being made with over material like iron and wood that weighs around 19 ton.

Wood from trees like teak and jack fruit tree has been used for aesthetic as well as religious reasons.

The chariot has been fitted with six wheels that are called shwetha chakra. It is said to be the tallest chariot ever made in India.

"A chariot with 63 feet height was the tallest till now," said Prakash Rai. "However with the new 71 feet chariot, Anna's offering will be the tallest ever."

'To last 600-years'

The chariot, which has taken two years in the making, is said to have been made to last foru00a0 600 years, according to Prakash.

Over 10 sculptors under the guidance of renowned sculptor Krishnamurthy Achar have worked on the chariot that has depictions of Ganesha, Shiva and Parvati, Nagaraj and the Ashta Digpalakas (Eight divine guards).

Ardent devotee

"I'm a devotee of Lord Shiva. This is my humble offering to him. I dedicate this to the people here," said Muthappa Rai.

The five day Bramharatha Samarpana Samarambha is scheduled from March 17 to March 22.

Rs 42-CR Offering

Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy last year offered a diamond-studded crown worth Rs 42 crore to lord Balaji at Thirumala Thirupathi. His brother Karunakara Reddy made yet another offering of Rs 10 lakh to the Kalahasti temple last year. Read More Read Next Story Indian tries to strangle self in a Dubai court› Trending Stories Latest Photos Latest Videos Latest Web Stories ADVERTISEMENT Mid-Day Fast ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT