Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Mar 31: The annual car festival of Goddess Mookambika temple at Kollur, which is one of the most sought after pilgrimage centres of South India, was held on Wednesday March 30 in an environment of devotion, sanctity, and celebration.

Religious procedures like Muhurat Mangalarati, Panchamrita ablution, Kshiprabali, special Bhoota Bali, ascension of the idol of the Goddess on the chariot etc were conducted under the directions of temple Tantry, Nityananda Adiga. In the afternoon, thousands of devotees, who had come from various parts of the country, were served food in the form of Prasadam.

The saris which had been offered to the Goddess in the towards fulfillment of religious vows were auctioned, and hundreds of women participated in the auction and bought them. In the evening, thousands of devotees felt a sense of fulfillment by lending their hand for pulling the chariot of the Goddess.

Temple executive officer, T R Uma, oversaw all the arrangements under the guidance of Udupi district deputy commissioner, Dr R Vishal. Assistant executive officer, H Krishnamurty, superintendent, K Ramakrishna Adiga, team of temple priests, staff of the temple, and the general public worked in tandem for the success of the celebrations. Policemen had taken ample measures like patrolling the areas and fixing of CCTV cameras in the areas covered, to avert undesirable incidents.

The car festival here had been initiated with the hoisting of the temple flag on March 23. At the request of the temple authorities, residents and devotees of Kollur had decorated their shops,establishments, houses, and streets with colourful electric lights.

The celebrations will end with the 'Avabhruta Snana (ceremonial bath)' of the Goddess on Thursday night. Since a week, special cultural programmes had been arranged as part of the car festival.