M'lore: Religious Ceremonies, Palanquin Processions, Community Feast - Hallmarks of Kodial Teru


M'lore: Religious Ceremonies, Palanquin Processions, Community Feast - Hallmarks of Kodial Teru

By Shreelatha Nayak Kodialbail
Pics by Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SN/SP)

Mangalore, Feb 2: The well known 'Mangalore Car Festival' or 'Kodial Teru’ is being celebrated with splendour and religious zeal for five days by the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin Community in the city.

The annual festivities connected with the festival start with the ‘Dwajarohana’ or the hoisting of the  flag with the symbol of Lord Hanuman on a silver plaque or the elevation of ‘Kodi’ at the ‘Dwajastambha’ on the first day, which is to repule influences of evil powers and to provide a protective cover to the presiding deities from the problems that may arise during the festival days.

This is the wonderful occasion in which large number of devotees jostle with one another to get a glimpse of the idols of Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavati seated in the golden palanquin taken around the outer precincts of the sanctum sanctorum five times, to the accompaniment of various troupes which play musical instruments and sing Bhajans.


 

Later, the idols are brought out of the temple premises and installed in the 'Brahma Ratha' placed in front of Sri Venkataramana Temple at Godhooli Lagnam in the evening.

The ‘Mriga Bete’ is performed on the night of the fourth day of car festival when the volunteers accompany the procession through a pre-determined route before the deities are seated on the 'Sanna Teru' or small chariot.

The 'Ratharohana' is considered as the holiest among all the ceremonies performed during the Car festival which signifies the marriage of Lord Venkatramana and Goddess Padmavathi. It provides an opportunity for the devotees to offer flowers and fruits to the deities, climbing the steps of sanctified chariot and paying obeisance to the deities, through the queue system. It is believed, that the deities happen to be in a good mood when seated in the chariot and hence, whatever the devotees pray for, is granted.

As soon as the ceremony of ‘Ratharohana’ is completed, people rush to the temple premises for the delicious meal served in the form of ‘Prasadam’. The special dishes served in the plantain leaf, and the opportunity of partaking food in the company of dear ones and relatives who come to the city to take part in the car festival, gives a special taste to the food served there. Food items like ‘Dali Tove’ made out of toordal is the main attraction and common menu during the entire tenure of the festival. Large number of youths and children selflessly volunteer to serve the food for thousands of people, clean the surroundings, wash the utensils and do other errands at the temple.

The temple management also provides the ‘Ganji Oota’ or ‘Pejje Jevan’ accompanied with chutneys, curries and pickles for the people in the morning on all the days of the festival as a part of the festivities.

The 'Brahma Ratha' decorated with flowers, festoons, vegetables etc., in which the deities are installed, is pulled by the devotees till the dead end of Car street and  back to the temple square again on the fifth day.

The ‘Okkuli’ is celebrated on the sixth and the final day of the car festival, where the devotees enjoy drenching each other in coloured water, playing with friends and family members with gay abandon. People enjoy dancing through out the day to the blaring music from various vehicles accompanying the palanquins carrying the deities. It is said, that some people eat sweets like Laddu and sweetened milk, duly mixing some herbal intoxicants to them, a tradition being followed to enjoy the occasion to the fulest and dance to the content of their hearts. The procession of 'Okkuli' concludes with the bathing  of the deities in the tank located in Srinivas Patashala compound and the deities are brought back to the temple.

Lowering the flag or ‘Kodi’ on the  last day bring curtains down on the grand celebrations of car festival. People then start waiting for the next year's car festival. The festival is an occasion where friends, relatives, classmates, erstwhile neighbourers come from different places and meet one another at a common platform and happily get to know from each other what happened in their lives during the last one year.                          

  

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Comment on this article

  • Nagesh Pai, Kundapur/Mysore/USA

    Thu, Jan 21 2010

    we outside Mangalore feel very happy to see reporting from Daijiworld on our famous Kodial TERU.

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  • sumita, Mangalore

    Fri, Feb 20 2009

    Good Reporting, & Great photography thanks for the information. keep it up.......

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  • K Bharish Kumar, Mnagalore/kuwait

    Sat, Feb 14 2009

    Thanx Daijiworld i missed this colurful kodial Teru nice to watch on ur site Thanks again every mangaloreans enjoy this time "VENKATRAMANA GOVINDA GO VINDA "

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  • SUJIR PRAVEEN ACHARYA, MANGALORE

    Thu, Feb 12 2009

    Great Photography Work.

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  • sunil karangalpady, mangaloe/newzealand

    Thu, Feb 12 2009

    Thanks daiji for bringing kodial teru in front of us, crystal clear snaps, felt as if i am watching the teru live. God bless Mangalore. govindara govinda govinda.

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  • Vandana, Bangalore

    Mon, Feb 09 2009

    Thank you daijiworld team for the pictures of pallaki utsav.Sitting at my work place you have given me an experience of seeing kodial teru

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  • Vandana, Bangalore

    Tue, Feb 10 2009

    Thank you daijiworld team for the pictures of pallaki utsav.Sitting at my work place you have given me an experience of seeing kodial teru

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  • shashi, katapadi/Ajman

    Sat, Feb 07 2009

    very beautiful pictures thanks to daijiworld team

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  • Dr Narendra Kamath, Mangalore

    Thu, Feb 05 2009

    Good coverage. Good boost for Mangalore. Should help to erase the tarnished image of Mangalore.

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  • suhir, mangalore

    Thu, Feb 05 2009

    nice coverage and good photos thanks to daijiworld team

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  • Vinaya Krishna, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 04 2009

    It is marriage function of Lord sreenivas with Padmavathi. After reading your comments I had checked with temple authorities they confirmed it its the marriage function of Lord sreenivas with Padmavathi.....

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  • shilpa, Mangalore

    Thu, Feb 05 2009

    Superb photos and marvelous informational reporting. Thanks to both of you.

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  • Vinayakrishna, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 04 2009

    Photo's are worth Viewing. even though i did not attend the function after watching the photos i feel like i have attended the function & did not miss tht. The way in which its explained here is really good... Thanks for the whole team for giving this wonderful coverage

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  • mohan shenoy, udupi/mangalore/dubai

    Wed, Feb 04 2009

    Thanks Daijiworld for showing us the famous Kodial Teru sitting in Dubai!

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  • Sudha, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 04 2009

    Great photos ! Good Coverage - Thank u Daijiworld.

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  • vishwa, bangalore

    Wed, Feb 04 2009

    Photo's are worth saving. I have never seen such a good photo of Kodial Teru. Thanks Daiji Team. I feel there is miss concept that it is marriage function of Lord sreenivas with Padmavathi. But that is called as Kalyanotsava. Car festival is celebrated to Give our anual obisince to Lord. It is a time when entire city people (where ever they are) come together and forget their day to day problem and remember Lord. This is also as per Vaishnava parampra remembering the Paste of Lord sri krishna. That is why the bragabeta festival is celebrated.

    Car festival( seeing Lord driving the ratha)celebrated and after avabrath ( Lord playing Holi) when Lord come back there is Kavata bandana ( samwada between Lord sri krishna and satyabama). In Nut shall it is a occassion for all GSB( in this case and applicable to all Hindu temple) to come together forget all their worldly problem and devote thier time with Lord. Mainly performing 9 process of Bhakthi. "In bhakti-yoga it is recommended that a devotee follow nine principles sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam. Srinivasa venkataramana Govinda Govinda

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  • miyarkar@gmail.com, Bangalore

    Wed, Feb 04 2009

    PICTURES ARE BEAUTIFUL,AND ARE TO BE SAVED

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  • VINAYAKKAMATH, MANGALORE/DUBAI

    Tue, Feb 03 2009

    Good photos thanks daijiworld jai veera venkatesh

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  • VINAYAKKAMATH, MANGALORE/DUBAI

    Tue, Feb 03 2009

    good photos thanks daijiworld jai veera venkatesh

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  • vivek, NAGURI/DUBAI

    Tue, Feb 03 2009

    Perfect use of fish eye lens….. Really good photograph of great 'Mangalore Car Festival' or 'Kodial Teru’. Thank You Daiji team .

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  • M.Bhat, Mumbai

    Tue, Feb 03 2009

    Thanks for Daiji world for excellent phots of kodial Theru. I have never seen such beautiful pictures of theru before. We had magnificient Darshan of Lord venkataramana sitting here in Mumbai. God bless you daiji team.

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  • M.Bhat, Mumbai

    Tue, Feb 03 2009

    Thanks for Daiji world for excellent phots of kodial Theru. I have never seen such beautiful pictures of theru before. We had magnificient Darshan of Lord venkataramana sitting here in Mumbai. God bless you daiji team.

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  • Prem Nayak, Bangalore

    Tue, Feb 03 2009

    It is very good and thanks for the team in providing the details like this. THANKS

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  • Subhas, Mangalore/Dubai

    Mon, Feb 02 2009

    Very good coverage nice photos. Thanks Daiji world. Aaji vokuli pura jan pura yavuka amgale vokuli carstreetanthu. Shenoy mamu kai asha thu? Tajmahal vaggi yo coffee piyuka first magiri polaka pura.

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  • shenoy, Mangalore/karkala

    Tue, Feb 03 2009

    Nice photographs, thanks to Daijiworld teams, keep it up

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  • arvind shenoy, camp Mumbai

    Mon, Feb 02 2009

    om namo bhagavate vasudevaaya. The Kodial teru is the most spectacular annual event for GSBs. It draws thousands of 'samaj bhandavas' from all over the world every year. This is the first time that I had to miss the teru. Even though I am in Mumbai to attend a wedding, my heart and soul are in Mangalore, viewing the magnificent pallaki utsav and the awe inspiring ratharohana. Thank you daijiworld for bringing us the pictures and report in quick time. govindaani govinda, gooaavinda!

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  • Pragatih K, Mangalore/U.S.A

    Tue, Feb 03 2009

    Great Work. Nice Coverage supported by excellent Photos.

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  • santhosh nayak, panemangalore/alain u.a.e

    Mon, Feb 02 2009

    very colourful photos, thank u for all team in daijiworld,i see here kodial teru.

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  • Shridhara Achar K, Puttur/Bangalore

    Mon, Feb 02 2009

    We had full view of the Kodial Teru, sitting in my residence, thanks to Daijiworld. The photos were not only colourful but brought before us the grandeur of Kodial Teru. Congrats to the reporting team and photographer

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Title: M'lore: Religious Ceremonies, Palanquin Processions, Community Feast - Hallmarks of Kodial Teru



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