Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Mar 5: The annual 'Nemotsava' of Pilichamundi Raktheshwari and family Daivas of the Enmakaje Taravadu was held with religious fervour at Enmakaje here on March 3.

Nemotsava is a part of the five-day religious festival at Enmakaje Taravadu near Perla which began on March 1. Thousands of people from Kasaragod and Dakshina Kannada districts took part in the rituals and festivities.

Religious rituals of ‘Raktheshwari Daiva Nema’ were performed first, followed by the ‘Pilichamundi Daiva Nema’ and later 'Satyadevatha, Korathi, Guliga Nemotsava' in the evening.

Prominent member of the Enmakaje lineage, Sudhir Shetty, ex president of UAE Exchange, local religious and social leaders and family heads of the Taravadu were present.

Cultural programmes including ‘Dasana Madiku’ under the guidance of Pandith Shree Pada Hedge and Vishal Hegde, Dharavad, musical nite led by renowned singer Dikson, Bhajana programme etc were also held as part of the five-day festival.

Enmakaje Mane (house), which has a history of over 450 years, is known for its ‘Bhoota Kola' (spirit worship). Among the nine Bhootas worshipped by the family are Pilichamundi, followed by Guliga, Sathyadevatha, Korathi, Posa Bhoota, Chalena Bhoota, and Rakhtheswari Bhoota.

Nemotsava became an annual event since 2004, when the temple which was destroyed in a fire in 1994 was reconstructed. The Nemotsava is performed in the first week of March every year. The present 'Yejamane' (family head) is Enmakaje Vishwanath Rai who represents the entire clan at all functions and religious ceremonies.