Spectacular Procession Marks End of Dasara Festivities in City
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje/ Ganesh Perla
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/AF)
Mangalore, Oct 18: The grand procession that began with much fanfare and devotion on the evening of Sunday October 17 drew to a close with as much religious fervour here on Monday October 18 morning.
The nine-day Navaratri festivities drew to a majestic end at the Shree Kshetra Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple here on Sunday. Thousands of people gathered to watch the Mangalore Dasara spectacle. The Kshetra was flooded with devotees on Sunday as a large number of tourists, including foreigners visited the city to witness the coastal alternative to Mysore Dasara.
Several attractive tableaux, some displaying mythological themes and some modern, took part in the main procession which began from the Gokarnanatheshwara temple. Themes included 'huli vesha,' reformer Narayana Guru, 'Adi Shakti' and various scenes depicting the history and cultural life of the region. There were processions and car festivals at other temples too, including the Mangaladevi temple in Jeppu.
Hundreds of folk troupes danced and marched ahead of the deities in the processions. Dollu Kunitha from Haveri and other places enthralled the devotees by their performance. The roads wore a splendorous look with special lights.
The police faced some hardship as there was a huge rush of people on the roads through which the procession passed. People were in a celebratory mode at their favourite 'charmuri' stalls as children and women busied themselves in front of the shops selling fancy goods, footwear, toys and bangles. People were seen exchanging notes on the festivities.
Troupes of 'tiger boys' exhibited their 'tiger dance' in front of shops and houses. Navadurgas in the nine forms - Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmandini, Siddirathri, Mahagowri, Mahakali, Kathyayini, Skandamatha Shailaputhri - were worshipped and taken out in the procession.
Chandevadya from Kerala, Kolata troupe from Andhra Pradesh, Bhajana team from Gadag and Veeragase of Badravathi entertained the crowd.
A Dasara doll exhibition at Nellikai Raghavendra temple was an added attraction this time.