The Hindu

Mangalore, Feb 24: Hundreds of devotees visited Shiva temples in Dakshina Kannada on Monday to offer prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. Devotees were seen in large numbers at the Manjunatha temple at Kadri, Gokarnanatheswara temple-Kudroli, Panchalingeshwara temple-Urwa, Mahalingeshwara temples at Kavoor and Pandeshwar, Somanatheswara temples-Someshwar, Ullal, and Kavu, and Panchalingeshwara temple-Bajal here. Large number of devotees visited Uma Maheshwara temple at Attavar, Chandramouleshwara temple-Karangalpady, Uma Maheshwara temple-Car Street, Nandaneshwara temple-Panambur, and Mahalingeshwara temple-Idya in the city. Sources said that the Mahalingeshwara temple at Puttur, Sahasralingeshwara temple at Uppinangady, and Manjunatha temple at Dharmasthala also witnessed huge attendance of devotees.

People anointed the Shivalingas at various temples with milk and tender coconut.

Mahesh, a visitor at the temple at Kudroli, said that a large number if people had started coming to the temple from early morning. The temple had been specially decorated with flowers and illumined with coloured lights for the occasion.

Bhajans, Yakshagana talamaddale, bayalata, Tulu plays, and Bharatanatya dances had been organised in all the temples for the entire night so that devotees can observe “jagarane” (remaining awake throughout night).

Natyanjali, a cultural organisation, had organised “Shivaratri Kalotsava”, an overnight cultural programme on the banks of the Nandini at Kandige near Chelyar, in the city outskirts, as part of the celebrations.