Silvester D'Souza 

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Oct 8: Thousands of devotees witnessed the grand Rathotsava that was held as part of the Navaratri festival celebration at Kollur Sri Mookambikla temple on Monday, October 7.

Right from the first day of nine-day long Navaratri festival, various poojas and religious celebrations were held in the temple. On the afternoon of Monday, the Utsava idol of Sri Devi was brought out of the temple and kept on the chariot that was shining with decoration and flowers.

Once the Pooja and Mangalarathi was done to the Goddess by the priest of the temple Nityananda Adiga, Ratha Pooja was held. Then thousands of devotees who were gathered started chanting praises to the Goddess and the chariot was pulled. Once the chariot completed three rounds of the temple premises it was kept in the original place from where the procession started. Once the chariot reached its original position, there is a ritual of the priests throwing the coins to the devotees from the top of the chariot. The devotees had tough competition among themselves to catch the coin which was thrown. Once the idol of Goddess Mookambika was brought down from the chariot, the devotees plucked the flowers that were used to decorate the chariot and made it empty.

MLA of Byndoor Sukumar Shetty, president of temple management committee Harish M Shetty, members of the committee Vadamballi Jayarama Shetty, Ramesh Ganiga Kollur, Jayanti Vijayakrishna Padukone, Rajesh Karant, Abhilash P V, Narasimha Halageri, former management committee president Krishnaprasad Adyantaya, executive officer Aravind Suttugundi, assistant executive officer Krishnamurthy, Kollur station officer M C Shivakumar, former members of the management committee Chucchi Narayana Shetty, Kishore Hegde, Jayananda Hobalidar, Sharmila Achar and Mohanchandra Nambiar were present.

On account of Vijayadashami on Tuesday, October 8, Aksharabhyasa programme was held for kids from 3 am at the temple premises. Kadiru Habba and Navannaprashana and Vijayotsava was held in the evening.