Mangalore: ‘Navaratri’ Festival Begin Amidst Tight Security Arrangements
Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje, Spoorti Ullal, Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Sep 30: Temples in Dakshina Kannada have been illuminated with coloured lights to celebrate the “Navaratri” festival that started here on Tuesday September 30.
Mangaladevi temple at Bolar, Gokarnanatha temple at Kudroli in the heart of Mangalore, Durgaparameshwari temple at Kateel, Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari temple at Mulky, and Annapoorneshwari temple at Kodyadkka near Moodbidri are some of the temples which attract a large number of devotes during the nine-day Dasara spectacle that will end on October 10.
Kudroli temple
The Gokarnanatha temple at Kudroli here has been splendidly decked up for the festival. Union Minister for Power Sushil Kumar Shinde inaugurated the “dasara celebrations” at Kudroli on Tuesday evening. The idols of “Nava Durgas” and Sharade are installed at the temple in the morning. According to H S Sairam, chairman, temple development committee, closed circuit television cameras have been fixed at 11 places in the temple as part of security arrangements.
The Dasara procession will be taken out on October 9. After the procession, the idols of “Nava Durgas” will be immersed in the lake at the temple. Various cultural programmes will be held at the temple in the evenings.
Mangaladevi temple
According to P Ramanatha Hegde, managing trustee of the temple, the managing committee of the temple has decided to make a golden mask to the presiding deity at a cost of Rs 20 lac. The mask will weigh 2.5 kg. It has decided to cover the main door of the temple with silver sheets at a cost Rs 25 lac.
A “Chandika yaga” would be performed at the temple on October 8, followed by the car festival on October 9, he said.