Mangalore: Navaratri Festivities Begin at Kudroli Temple

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal / Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)

Mangalore, Oct 16: Navaratri festivities at Shri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, Kudroli formally began on Tuesday October 16 with the installation of the idol of goddess Sharadadevi.

The ceremony was held in a grand manner amidst the chanting of hymns and performance of various rituals.

This is 22nd annual Navaratri festival being celebrated at the Temple.

The idols of Navadurgas in nine incarnations, that is, dishakti, Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kooshmadini, Skandamatha, Katyayini, Mahakali, Mahagowri and Siddidhatri, were installed earlier.

IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy and his wife, Property Infra Tech MD Rohan Monteiro, Rajendra Kumar of SCDCC Bank and entrepreneur Ramesh Kumar graced the occasion.

Pujas were held to mark the ceremony. After the installation of the idol, a puja was also offered to lord Ganesha.

A large number of devotees gathered at the Temple to seek blessings and be part of the festivity.

Sonia Gandhi to Inaugurate Dasara Festivities

Addressing a press meet later, member of the Temple development committee Harikrishna Bantwal said that on Thursday October 18 Congress national president Sonia Gandhi will inaugurate the Dasara festivities at Kudroli Temple, along with its centenary celebrations.

"Sonia Gandhi will arrive at the Temple at 6 pm on October 18 and will spend one-and-half hours there," he said.

He requested the devotees through the media to arrive at the Temple by 4 pm.

"There are limited passes and only 2,000 people will be allowed to enter. Once they enter the hall, they will not be allowed to leave until the end of the programme due to security reasons," he said.

"The programme will be held either in Santoshi Kala Mantap or Koragappa Mantap in the Temple premises," he added.

He also said that mobile phones, cameras and other electronic gadgets will not be allowed inside the hall.

The Temple will start issuing passes on Wednesday October 17.

Special Protection Guards (SPG) will be deployed at the venue. Tight security arrangements will be in place.

Dr B G Suvarna and others were present at the press meet.