Mangalore: Navarathri Celebrations Kick-start at Mangaladevi Temple

Pics: Sphoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VA)

Mangalore, Oct 8: The Navarathri celebrations kick- started with zest and gaiety at Mangaladevi temple, Bolar here on Friday October 8.

Large number of devotees thronged into the temple on the very first day of the festival. Deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj and M Raghunath Shet of S L Shet Jewelers offered the golden mask weighing approximately 2.5 kg to chief priest Padmanab Aithal and managing trustee Ramanath Hegde.

Later the golden mask was carried in a procession around the temple.  Sudhakar Rao Pejavar; Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi, president, Federation of World Bunts Association, former president of Bunts Sangha and corporator Premanand Shetty among others were present.

During Navarathri (dussera) special pujas are performed on all the nine days in the temple. On the seventh day, Godess Mangaladevi is worshipped as Sharadamba and on the eight day the goddess is worshipped as Maarikamba. On this day Aayuda puja is performed. All the weapons and tools are worshipped as the day marks the slaying of the cruel demons by the goddess Durga. On the ninth day also known as Mahanavami, a large number of devotees participate in the Rathothsava.

The decorated godess in mounted on the grand chariot and pulled with thick ropes. The procession goes to Marnamikattte where the goddess is worshipped. Even today pious people believe that worship of Mangaladevi brings them prosperity and happiness.