Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Oct 13: The city's most awaited festival, Mangaluru Dasara, also called Navaratri, began on a grand note at Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple here on Tuesday October 13.

The ten-day festival began with the installation of the nine idols of Goddess Durga in the decorated hall of the temple.

Addressing the gathering after lighting the auspicious lamp, S Murugan, commissioner of police, said, "I thank the commitee members of Shree Gokarnanatha Kshetra, Kudroli for inviting me here. Leave the bad and take the good, is the message preached by Brahmashree Narayana Guru. God is one. Religion is to unite people, it should not create walls or divide the people. This is a happy occasion for all Mangalureans."

During the nine-day celebrations, deities Sharada Devi and Navadurgas Shaila Putri, Brahmacharini, Chandra Ghanta, Kushmaandini, Skandaputhri, Katyayini, Kaalaratri, Maha Gauri and Sidhidaathri will be invoked.

Pili Vesha was a special attraction of the day. Cultural programmes by renowned artistes will be held at 6 pm every day at Santhoshi Kala Mantap.

Thousands of devotees flocked to the Temple to seek blessings and participate in the celebrations. The Temple wears a grand bridal look, with the entire premises being illuminated.

The celebrations will culminate with a grand Dasara Shobha Yatra procession that will be held on October 23 from 4 pm onwards.

Shubha Murugan, H S Sairam, president, Kudroli Temple, temple managing committee members Raghavendra Kulur, Padmaraj R, B K Taranath, K Maheshchandra, B Devendra Poojary, Leelaksha Karkera, Ravishankar Mijar and others were present.

Dasara at Mangaladevi Temple

The Navaratri celebrations began at Mangaladevi Temple, Bolar with the performing of rituals by Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji of Odiyoor Math.

The Swamiji in his address said, "Preserving the good and destroying the evil, is the message of Dasara. Managing trustee's job is to become a bridge between the devotees and the priest, P Ramanath Hegde is doing it very well."

Commenting on the Yettinahole project, he said, "There have been protests against Yettiinahole. We are not against giving water and neither should we be. But we are against the method of taking the water. People should be informed about it in detail and it should be discussed with them. Our fight should be non-violent and revolutionary," he said.

The Navaratri festival will be celebrated at the temple till October 24.

Managing trustee P Ramanath Hegde, trustees B Rama Naik, Premalatha S, hereditary trustees M Ganesh, Raghurama Upadhyaya, B Venkatramana Aithal, B Padrnanabha Aithal, Pradhana Archaka, B Ramachandran and others were present.