Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje / Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Oct 15: The grand Mangaluru Dasara celebration was inaugurated by president of Karnataka Bank Pradeep Kumar Panja in the presence of veteran Congress leader B Janardhana Poojary here at Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple on Sunday, October 15.

The Dasara Mahostava will be held from October15 to 25 with various cultural, and spiritual programmes.

Idols of goddesses Navadurga and Sharada were installed. Goddess Sharada’s idol was carried in a procession within the temple premises. Tiger dance was performed before the installation.

"As part of the Dasara festival, every day puja, religious rituals and evening cultural programmes will be held. As part of the festivities, a Dasara run will be held at Mangaluru for the first time during the night and also photography, videography competetions will be held," Poojary said.

He said, “On all the nine days, various types of spiritual rituals will be held. A grand procession of the Dasara celebration will begin on October 24 which will pass through the main roads of the city."

The temple managing committee also informed that Mangaluru City Corporation will illuminate prominent places of the city.

A large number of devotees is expected to witness the grand Dasara celebrations this time.

MLA Vedavyas Kamath, Mayor Sudhir Shetty Kannur, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, president of Kudroli Temple H S Sairam, vice-president Urmila Ramesh, treasurer Padmaraj and others were present.