M'lore: Devotees Flock in for Historic Chendu of Shri Rajarajeshwari Temple
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)
Inputs from Various Sources
Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Mangalore, Apr 10: The famous annual feast of historic Shri Rajarajeshwari Temple at Polali near here was held on Wednesday April 9. Polali chendu which is one of the main attractions of this feast too was held in the presence of thousands of devotees of Shri Rajarajeshwari, the symbol of Shakti.
Shri Rajarajeshwari temple is located at Polali in Kariyangala village of Bantwal taluk. Shri Kshetra Polali is in the heart of this village surrounded by high hillocks and wide paddy fields. River Phalguni flows from east on the northern side a furlong way from the temple. It turns left towards south at the back of the temple in the Western side. This place was being called as Pural and the deity in the temple was known as Porala Devi in several old records and ancient epigraphs available.
Puliapura is its Sanskrit version. In Kannada this is called Polali. It is believed that King Suratha got the temple constructed, installed the image and placed his own crown on the head of the image. This is an ancient temple. This temple has been alluded to in the Ashokan inscriptions and in the reports of the foreign travelers who visited India. Queen Chennammaji of Keladi visited Polali and got a grand chariot constructed for the temple.
Being a pilgrimage centre, Polali attracts travelers and tourists with its natural scenic beauty and serenity. Polali Chendu is a unique festival in this temple, which is performed during annual festival of the temple.
About Polali Chendu (Football):
This festival of football commences when there are seven days to the avabritha. This football festival continues for five days. This game during the temple festival is very popular. Members of a particular cobbler family at Mijar prepare this leather ball. The members of the oil miller family of 'Kadapu Karia' bring the leather ball from Mijar. On their way back they come to the house of Malali Ballal.
In the evening members of the Gutthu families occupy their seats on both sides of the front gopuram. The members of the oil miller family then place the ball and a palm leaf umbrella in the gopuram. Then the person authorized to throw the ball arrives there wearing his headgear. He then offers prayers to the deity in the presence of the members of the Gutthu. Afterwards the members of the Gutthu families go to the 'Sultan Katte' near the football field and wait there. The honorable person authorized to throw the ball then comes to football field with all honours.
He throws the ball and game begins. When the ball reaches either the southern or northern bund of the field the ball is again given to the authorized person to be thrown again. All together the ball is thrown three times. This procedure is repeated for five days. When three games are over the person authorized to throw the ball returns with it to the temple and occupies his seat in the gopuram and some specified persons are offered betal leaves and areca nuts and honoured in the presence of the head of Gutthus. This festival is conducted with great pomp and gaiety. The final football festival of Polali is very famous in the vicinity and just like every year, this year too devotees flocked in thousands for the historic chendu.