Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Oct 17: A group of nine women, who are interested in dance and modelling and have taken part together in many programmes, thought of a new concept for this Navaratri festival. They donned themselves with Navadurgas with the idea of killing the demon of sexual harassment and atrocities against women.

Navaratri is a festival in which nine different Goddesses are worshipped. In the nine days of war that Devi had with demon Mahishasura, she killed him with her lion and weapons.

Navaratri, which is called as Dasara in Karnataka is famous as Mangaluru Dasara. A team of women from the city have tried something unique. With the idea of killing the demon, they are giving a message to the society about the atrocities and sexual harassment that is conducted against women.

The team is led by 'Mrs Karnataka district' winner Savita Chethan. The story of killing of demon is recreated by these nine women at Matadakani of the city along with C K Prashanth as Mahishasura. Three women from the modelling field and six from the dance background have joined together to depict the nine durgas of Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Kalarathri, Katyayani, Mahagowri and Siddidhatri. Make up is done by Priya Baliga team. Savita Chethan, Sapna, Mamata, Keerti, Shraddha, Sowmyalatha, Shalet, Raksha and Sowmya have donned the costume of Navadurgas.

Saraswati Arts and Lalita Kala Arts provided the costume. This unique attempt is popular among the public of the city now.