Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Oct 29: Gokarnanatheshwara Temple in Kudroli, complemented the festival of lights and brought out the essence of Deepavali in the city this year.
The temple has been hosting Goodu Deepa and model making competitions on the first day of Deepavali for the last seventeen years. More than 400 of these hanging lanterns and a hundred various models were exhibited at the venue. Goodu-Deepas made out of various materials, the ones made out of paper cups, coins of various denominations, candles, wood, zippers and Cadbury Gems attracted the eyes.
Sri Nityananda Yuvaka Mandali from Jokatte spent around Rs 13,000 on coins of various denominations to design a Goodu-Deepa weighing 52 kilograms. Sandesh Kodikal bought 15,000 candles of 7 different colours from a local manufacturer and took 27 days to make a candle Goodu-Deepa.
An elegant teakwood one was made by woodworker Jagadeesh Acharya from Jokatte. The Cadbury Gems lantern which had 19,896 gems on it made by Karthikeya from Kodialguthu and the 10 KG zipper lantern made by brothers Gaurish and Vignesh Mallya were amazing.
A massive floral elephant was made by Prakriti flowers from Car Street. This eight foot tall Mysuru Dasara elephant which was completely adorned with carnations and orchids had a howdah on top with an idol of Durga in it.
Cardboard and thermocol models of monuments, fishing boat models made of wood, Pili Vesha (tiger dancers) stuffed toys and a model of Taj Mahal made of 40,000 match sticks were other crowd pullers.
The competition among the contestants dissolved into an exhibition of talent and skill.