Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (RJP)

Udupi, Aug 10: The special service of Katahapupa which takes place at Padubidri Sri Mahalingeshwara Mahaganapathy temple in Ashada month is very famous not only in the coastal district but in the world. Though the main deity here is Mahalingeshwara, the service is offered to Mahaganapathy. Kattadappa and Pottappa services are done here.

Thousands of people from Bengaluru, Mumbai and abroad are offering services this year at the temple.

Once upon a time, as tradition goes, when a dam at Kallatte near Padubidri had a problem, a petition was made to the god. The petition was answered and the dam started functioning as required. Then, a vow was made to pay the god by offering Kattadappa. The amount of the offering has increased over time.

A British officer who refused to bow down to the god and moved in his horse had a problem with his journey with the horse unable to walk. After the advice from devotes, the officer vowed to offer Pottappa service. After that he could move from there with his horse without any problems, people say.

For the past 18 years a team of 90 persons headed by Yogish Bhat prepare Kattadappa. The amount of the ingredients has increased by seven folds from ten mudis to 70 mudis. Mudi is a local measurement counted by volume contained in a grass based pack.

The ingredients for the offering are: 70 mudi rice powder, 1,600 coconuts, 40,000 bananas, 300 kilograms of jiggery, 10 kilograms of cardamom and 70 litres of coconut oil with 30 bags of aralu. The team prepares 2 lac apas (a savoury) from 1 am to 8 am in the morning.

At night the apas are offered to god and then distributed to devotees. The number of devotees is expected to cross 11,000 this year.