Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 25: The grand Mangaluru Dasara celebrations are set to take place from September 22 to October 2 at the iconic Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, announced the temple’s treasurer Padmaraj during a press briefing on Monday.

Padmaraj confirmed that this year’s Dasara will feature a vibrant array of cultural and spiritual programmes. Idols of Goddess Navadurga and Goddess Sharada will be ceremoniously installed, with the Goddess Sharada idol to be taken in a modest procession within the temple premises.

In a notable move, new cultural teams have been given the opportunity to perform this year. A total of 31 teams, featuring between 700 and 800 artists, are scheduled to participate. The festival will also include felicitations for women achievers and organisations that have made significant contributions to society.

A variety of competitions will be held as part of the festivities, including:

• Drawing competition

• Kinni Pili contest (for two age groups: 0–4 and 4–8 years)

• Devotional singing

• Muddu Sharadhe

• Dasara poetry

• Rudra Thandavam dance competition

• Makkala Dasara (Children’s Dasara)

In line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the government, the use of DJ music will be strictly prohibited during the Dasara celebrations. This step has been taken to preserve the spiritual and cultural sanctity of the event.