Udupi: Temples in Twin-districts Gearing Up for Grand Navaratri Celebrations

Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/SP)

Udupi, Sep 19: Preparations are underway in various temples across undivided Dakshina Kannada district, for the grand celebration of Navaratri festival, which begins on Saturday September 19 and ends on Monday September 28. The temples in the twin-districts that are dedicated to Goddesses, expect to get large number of devotees during this period. Various religious rituals, cultural programmes and free food offerings, which are slated to be held throughout the ten days of Navaratri celebrations, are sure to attract all types of people, those who are ardent devotees, people interested in cultural programmes or those who want to enjoy artistic grandeur and fine craftsmanship that are witnessed in the temple decorations and idols of Goddess Durga, that are presented as different incarnations with each passing day.

During Navaratri celebrations, Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha are the Gods who get added attention as it is believed that they get appeased easily during this period and shower abundant grace and bestow health, wealth and prosperity to those who beseech them.  The farming community also worships Mother Earth, which is rejuvenated with bountiful rains, praying her to bless them with bumper crops.

Throughout Navaratri celebrations, various puja and Vedic rites will be held to seek intercession with Goddess Durga, for mitigating the trials and sufferings of devotees. 

Navaratri celebrations will be particularly grand at Sri Mookambika temple, Kollur, Sri Mahishamardini temple, Neelavar and Bailoor, Sri Durga temple, Kunjarugiri, Sri Vishwanath temple, Katpady, Sri Durgaparameshwari temple, Kannarpadi and Bantakal, Sri Durga temple and Sri Hosa Marigudi, Hale Marigudi, Moorane Marigudi in Kaup, Sri Mahalaxmi temple, Ucchil, Sri Kalikamba temple, Katpady, Sri Kalikamba temple, Kaup and other temples in the district, here.

Besides, the idol of Lord Krishna will be presented in different incarnations of Goddess Durga by changing the Lord’s attire, during the Navaratri festival Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt.

 Various religious and cultural programmes will be held daily at Sri Durga temple, Kunjarugiri, near here from Saturday September 19 to Monday September 28.  Kannika puja, a unique puja procedure, is held at Kunjarugiri daily at 12 pm.  Chandika Yaga and free food offerings will be held on Sunday September 27 afternoon.  Offering of flowers by the devotees will be organized on Sunday September 20 and Bhajans will be chanted from Saturday September 26 night till Sunday September 27 night. 

Various religious and cultural progammes will be held from Saturday September 19 to Monday September 28, as part of Navaratri celebrations at Sri Hosa Marigudi temple, Kaup. 

Mangalore: Grandeur, Variety - Hallmarks of Mangalore Dasara Celebrations

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje

Mangalore, Sep 19: Variety of programmes and grandeur that are associated with the annual 'Mangalore Dasara' will be on display this year too, on account of Navaratri festival at Sri Gokarnanatha Temple, Kudroli here, from Saturday September 19 to Tuesday September 29.

The festival will begin with the installations of the idols of nine forms of Goddess Durga and an idol of Goddess Sharada at Sri Gokarnanatha Kalyana Mantap at 11 am on Saturday, backed by Vedic rituals. Western range inspector general of police Gopal Hosur will be inaugurating the festival.

The celebrations will be led and guided as usual, by eminent Congress leader, former union minister and the man behind the grand renovation of the temple, B Janardan Poojary. The 'Mangalore Dasara' will be inaugurated at 5.30 pm on Tuesday September 22, by Karnataka Governor H R Bhardhwaj. National Billawa Federation president Jaya C Suvarna and State Vishwakarma Mahasangh president and entrepreneur K P Nanjundi will take part as chief guests that day, said H S Sairam, president of the temple managing committee, addressing a press conference here on Friday September 18.

After worshipping the idols for ten days, the nine idols of Goddess Durga and the other idol of Goddess Sharada will be taken in a procession from the temple. The procession will begin at 4 pm on September 28. The procession will move through Kambla Road, Mannagudde, Laldy Hills Circle, Lalbagh, Ballalbagh, PVS Junction, Navabharat Circle, K S Rao Road Hampankatta, University College, GHS Road, Sri Venkataramana Temple, Car Street, Chitra Talkies, Alake and reach the temple again on the morning of Tuesday September 29. The idols will then be immersed in the temple tank.

Every day, cultural programmes will be presented at Santoshi Kala Mantap of the temple, between 6 and 9 pm. Chandika oblation will be held on the morning of September 26. Community feast will be organized on September 27. Laser show by aristes from Bangalore will be held on the evening of September 27. The streets on the route of the procession have already been bedecked with colourful decorative lighting and grand arches.

Vice president Raghavendra Kulur, treasurer Padmanabh, development committee members Harikrishna Bantwal, Dr B G Suvarna, B Devadas, Devendra, Jayavikram, B Gangadhar and Radhakrishna were present at the press conference.