Mangalore: ‘Kodial Teru’ Attracts Numerous Devotees from Across Globe
Pics: Manju Neereshwallya
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Jan 22: The traditional car festival of Sri Venkataramana Temple of Car Street, popularly known as ‘Kodial Teru’, was held on Friday January 22, with the participation of thousands of devotees.
The six-day festival began with traditional flag hoisting at the temple and continued with rituals and ‘pallakki utsava’. Devotees, predominantly from the Gowda Saraswat Brahmin community celebrate all six days of the festival with devotion and dedication.
On the penultimate day of the festival the large chariot with the deity in it, is pulled along the street by a huge number of devotees. The newly-dedicated golden chariot is an added attraction of the festival this year.
The festival is not only celebrated by the GSB community but also by the all Mangaloreans. So, nowadays it has gained popularity as ‘Mangalore Car Festival’.
The gathering of devotees, which is increasing with each year, has led to the festival being called thus. The chariot is pulled along Car Street and devotees get ‘prasadam’ from the chariot till midnight.
The idol of the deity Veera Venkatesha, which dates back to the Vijayanagara era, is uniquely decorated during the festival.
The rituals during the festival were done under the guidance and presence of Sri Sudheendra Theertha Swamiji of Kashi Mutt.
The small chariot of the temple was pulled the day before the Kodial Teru. The day after is reserved for the colourful ‘holi’ or ‘Okkuli’ which is the final day of the Mangalore Car Festival.