Pics: Niranjan M N
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Oct 8: Preparations are in full swing for the fifth edition of Udupi Uchila Dasara-2026, one of the major religious and cultural festivals of coastal Karnataka. The 11-day festival will be held from October 11 to 21 at the Shrimathi Shalini Dr G Shankar Auditorium at Sri Kshetra Uchila, featuring a wide range of religious, cultural, and social programmes.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Uchila Mogaveera Sabha Bhavan on Thursday, Nadoja Dr G Shankar, honorary adviser to the Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha, said the festival has attracted global attention over the past four years and is being organised this year with the support of the Karnataka Department of Kannada and Culture, the state government, and devotees.
He said idols of Navadurga and Sri Sharada Devi will be installed at an elaborately decorated venue and worshipped according to traditional rituals throughout the 11-day festival.
The special illumination from Padubidri to Kaup beach will be inaugurated on October 10 at 6:30 pm. The installation of the idols of Navadurga and Sri Sharada Devi will take place on October 11 at 9 am under the guidance of Kukkikatte Raghavendra Tantri and chief priest Raghavendra Upadhyaya.
The exhibition, information camp, entertainment programmes, and fairground will be inaugurated at 10 am on October 11. The exhibition will feature several attractions, including fish-themed installations, artworks made from grains, public-awareness exhibits, Kalpavriksha products, artworks made by persons with disabilities, flower and bird displays, a model of a traditional farmer’s house, leather musical instrument making, Yakshagana-themed artworks, bullock-powered oil extraction, marine and freshwater fish displays, handicrafts, and Channapatna toy making.
The official inauguration of Udupi Uchila Dasara-2026 will be held at 10:30 am on October 11. Minister for muzrai, ports, fisheries, and inland transport K S Basavanthappa will inaugurate the festival. Udupi district in-charge minister Rizwan Arshad, minister for health and family welfare, minority welfare, Wakf and Hajj U T Khader, and minister for sugar and textiles Rudrappa M Lamani will be present.
Women’s Dasara on October 12
Women’s Dasara will be held on October 12 at 3 pm and will be inaugurated by chief minister D K Shivakumar. A felicitation programme will also be held to honour Shivakumar for according Tulu the status of the state’s second administrative language, the organisers said.
As part of Sharannavarathri, Chandikahoma will be performed daily from 9 am to noon, followed by Maha Annasantarpane from noon to 3 pm. Prasada distribution will be held from 6:30 pm, while collective Kumkumarchane by married women will be held from 5:30 pm to 6:15 pm. Bhajans, religious discourses, and other spiritual programmes will also be held. Kalpoktha Puja will be performed at 8:30 pm. On Vijayadashami, a collective Maha Chandikayaga and Maha Poornahuti will be conducted.
The cultural programme lineup includes bhajans, devotional music, and religious discourses by scholars. Music programmes by playback singer All OK’s team, Bhajan Fusion by Kerala’s Sithani Bhajans team, folk and classical dance by Natyanilayam Manjeshwar, a musical programme by Puttur Jagadish Acharya, Alva’s Cultural Vaibhava, Bharatanatyam, folk dance, dance dramas, saxophone performances, classical music, and veena recitals are among the highlights.
The festival will also feature the Tulu comedy play 'Raghu Mastru' and Tulu play 'Mahimeda Appe Bhagavathi'. Dance festivals by invited teams from across Karnataka, Sri Sharada Devi fancy-dress competition for children, Hulivesha competitions for men and women, Kinni Pili dance competition for children, drawing and rangoli competitions, Udupi-Dakshina Kannada district-level wrestling, and a state-level bodybuilding competition will also be organised.
Collective Kunitha Bhajana, group Dandiya dance, and a Dasara poets’ meet will also be held.