Mangalore: Devotion, Sense of Fulfillment in Air at Car Festival

Pics: Ramanand Pai, Monark Digital Studio / Manju Neereshwallya
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 31: It was an alacrious moment for the people belonging to Gowda Saraswat Brahmin Community. As the Lord’s idol was brought in a golden palanquin from the temple and placed atop the beautifully decorated chariot, and also when Sri Samyameendrateertha Swamiji, Patta Shishya of Sri Sudheendrateertha Swamiji, spiritual head of Kashi Mutt, installed the idol on the chariot, the people present in thousands went ecstatic, and erupted with a sense of jubilation in hailing the Lord in unison with a sense of fulfillment. The slogan, ‘Srimad Ramaramana Govinda, Govinda’ rent the air repeatedly.

This scene was witnessed at Car Street in the city on Monday January 30, the occasion being Mangalore Car Festival (Kodial Teru or Dodda Teru of Lord Venkataramana Temple). Every conceivable nook and corner, lane and bylane, rooftops of houses and business establishments etc in the area, were occupied by a sea of humanity, which had come from all over the district, other states and countries, to be part of the celebrations.

This year, the enthusiasm of devotees was manifold, considering that the temple was exhaustively renovated in a record time recently and re-consecration of the Lord’s idol and also those of the family deities was performed recently. The presence of the two Swamijis of Kashi Mutt at the temple added to the fervour and jubiliation of the people who were dressed for the occasion, more so because of the fact that Kashi Mutt got back its presiding deities from the disowned disciple of Sri Sudheendrateertha Swamiji recently.

The entire Car Street area was bedecked for the celebration. Green festoons, colourful flags, flower garlands, and various formations with intricate designs made from flowers and other materials have been adorning the area since the last some weeks. Religious and cultural programmes as well as attractive lightings have been attracting crowds to Car Street since the past many days.

On the occasion of Car Festival, after the Nitya Puja in the morning, prayers for the car festival and religious rituals were performed in the morning in the presence of Sri Sudheendrateertha Swamiji. Ceremonial ablution (Abuisheka) of the deities was performed with holy water. Pulakasbhisheka, Sahasradharabhisheka, Panchamrita etc were also performed, followed by Shata Kalasbhisheka, which was officiated by Sri Samyameendrateertha Swamiji. After Pada Puje, Poornahuti was performed at Yajna Mantapa of the temple. The Lord’s idol was kept in a golden palanquin and taken round the outer perambulatory path of the temple before installing the same in the chariot. The chariot was pulled through Car Street at around midnight on Monday.

‘Avabrutotsava’, which is also known as ‘Okuli’ in local parlance, which is the last of the celebrations in the six-day Car Festival, is being celebrated today.