Governor V S Rama Devi today inaugurated Shaata Koti Nama Japa Yajna at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) here.

Ms Rama Devi also participated in the yajna by chanting Hare Rama mantra along with the priests. The ISKCON has started this year-long yajna to promote world peace and harmony.

According to Iskcon President Madhu Pandit Das, more than thousand devotees participated in the yajna today by chanting Hare Krishna mantra 108 times every hour,

Describing the yajna, he said the devotees would walk on 108 steps of a specially designed mantapa chanting the Hare Krishna mantra on each step and that would lead them to the temple through the special Hari-nama Dwara. The mantapa would be resounding with the audio-recorded chanting.

A special entry has been created inside the temple complex leading to the mantapa for those devotees who visit to participate in the yajna which would be conducted throughout the year.

According to a press release, Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, Revenue Minister Srikantaiah, Mayor Ramachandrappa also visited the temple later in the day.