Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Pics – Dayanand Kukkaje
Mangalore, Oct 22: The culmination of the nine days of the Dasara celebration, with the grand immersion procession of the Navadurgas, worshipped at Mangaladevi temple started it’s traditional onward journey here on Sunday October 21 evening.
Mild showers of rainfall greeted the coastal township here, adding a sprinkling of colour to the already grand colourful Dasara procession, with throngs of devotees joining in the procession as well as lining up on the roadside. In fact the whole city looked to have joined in, en masse in the festivities of this magnificent religious procession.
The Mangaladevi temple, from which the city of Mangalore gets its name, was indeed a sight to behold, completely bedecked in traditional glory with colourful lights and festoons presenting a beautiful sight. Authorities of the Mangaladevi temple arranged various cultural programmes as part of the festivities such as poetry singing, devotional songs, dramas and dance drama for various days.
As the Mangaladevi Dasara procession began its onward journey here, on Sunday October 21 there were tableaux carrying the idols of “Navadurges” (nine divine forms of Goddess Durga — Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kalaratri, Mahagouri, and Siddidatri). The procession had winded its way throughout the city. In the procession were hundreds of tableaux and ‘Rathotsavas’ chariot-driven cavalcades filled with various deities, gloriously decorated with colourful lights, festoons and bulbs.
One interesting sight was a tableau of farmer riding a bullock cart with a ferocious faced demon in the frontal side, while another was one of Goddess Sharada venerated by a priest. Another glorious sight was a truck with a platform consisting of young guys painted in yellow tiger stripes performing the ‘Pilli Vesha’ ritual dance atop the trucks. Moreover, there was a display of drummers atop a pyramid of young boys and youngsters with drums performing acrobatic items and gymnastics in full revelry.
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