Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Dec 4: The annual Laksha Deepotsava of Lord Kundeshwara temple here that has an impressive history and after which the town has been named, was held as usual on Karthika Bahula Amavasya as per Hindu calendar which happened to be on Friday December 3 this year.

Shatha Rudrabhisheka, Maha Puje and community feast were organized at the temple on the occasion, right from 9 am.

From sunrise to sunset on Friday, various Bhajan teams from all over Kundapur taluk sang Bhajans in praise, glorifying the Lord. In the evening, innumerable devotees who had congregated near the temple on account of Laksha Deepotsava lit earthen lamps to appease the Lord and paid obeisance in that light, duly feeling a sense of fulfilment. Later, Pushpa Rathotsava and Kattepuje of the Lord were held. The entire town came alive with different types of light decorations.

While Shatha Rudrabhisheka, Mahapuje and Maha Mangalarati apart from distribution of Prasadam were held at the temple in the morning, at night, Rangapuje and Mahamangalarati were performed. Thereafter, the Utsava idol of the Lord was brought out of the sanctum sanctorum to the accompaniment of various musical instruments like gong, and as per the guidance of the temple Tantry. After the idol is taken through the inner perambulatory path thrice and the outer one thrice, during which Bali was offered near the Bali stones, at the end of which the idol was seated in the palanquin.

The procession thereafter went through the predetermined route in the town along with various musical instruments, traditional musical instruments, which were the highlights of the procession, and folk dances. The procession went till the new bus stand from the temple, took the municipality road and covered a patch of national highway before reaching Geleyara Balaga and then returning to car street in the early hours of Saturday.

Various platforms (Katte) had been built in attractive shapes, sizes and with lighting all along the path of the procession. The idol of the Lord was seated on these platforms briefly during which the devotees were allowed to perform puja at the end of which Prasadam was distributed. Kattepuje was performed at 16 places along the route.

The earthen lamps lit around the temple pond get reflected in the water and create a magical environment. After the idol is brought back, it is worshipped at the platform located under the peepal tree near the temple. After Ashtavadhana and another Kattepuje in the outer precincts of the temple were performed, traditional observations like breaking the coconut against a stone on the perambulatory path etc were conducted.

Temple managing committee president, S Krishnananda Chatra, members, Sathish Shetty, Vishwanath Poojary, Nagaraj Rayappanamath, Jayanand Kharvi, Sathish, Veena H, Savitha Jagadish, priests and ex-officio priests were present.