Mangalore: Thousands of Devotees Witness Kadri Car Festival
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jan 22: The annual car festival of Kadri Sri Manjunatheswara Temple was celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and devotional fervour here on Wednesday January 21. The celebrations will come to an end today with Avabrhuta Snana ritual.
The Utsava Murthy of the Lord was installed in the chariot in the afternoon after following the rituals connected with it by the priests of the temple, followed by Puja. Thereafter, devotees went up the ladder to pay obeisance to the Lord and offered coconut, banana and flowers. It is believed, that the wishes of the devotees get fulfilled when they pray to the deity seated in the chariot, as he is supposed to be in a benevolent mood then.
As is the tradition, the Swamiji of Kadri Sri Jogi Math went around the temple on horse back, coupled with disciples and devotees, prior to the pulling of the big chariot in the evening. The big chariot was then pulled around the outer precincts of the temple at around 7.30 pm. As per the temple customs, the big chariot is pulled only by grown ups.
The temple has other two chariots. One is Chandra Mandala made of wood, which has an attractive upper portion that is divided into five different parts, decorated with various flags. These parts move in a circular motion when the Chandra Mandala is pulled, providing an attractive view. The other one is the recent acquisition of the temple, silver chariot. Both the silver chariot and Chandra Mandala are pulled by children, after the big chariot is pulled, in that order.
The community feast at the temple too attracted several thousands of devotees who gratefully consume the items offered as the Lord's Prasadam. The street leading to the temple was full of shops that have been busy selling delicacies, plastic items, toys, stainless steel utensils and such other items to the thronging crowd.
Links: Recent religious celebrations