Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Aug 18: Kandloor is one of the communally sensitive areas in the coastal districts. However, it is also known for communal harmony historically. A perfect example for this is the Kandloor Mari Festival.

Hindus and Muslims of Kandloor keep aside all differences between them and celebrate Mari Festival together every year. The same scenes of communal harmony were seen at Kandloor on the evening of Wednesday, August 17 where Mari festival was celebrated with the active participation of people of all religion.

According to history, Kudloor is the meeting point of Kuja and Varahi rivers. It later came to be known as Kandloor. During the tenure of kings, Deva Verma used to rule Kandloor. He got a baby girl by the blessings of sage Kubja. She was named as Sridevi.

In the meantime, a certain woman by the name DEvamma used to rear cattle at Ammanabettu for a living. One day, a cow by the name Kapila, which was reared by Devamma ran away from the heard and was giving off its milk at Kannikanvana. This was known to Devamma through the cowherd and she informed the matter to a purohit. Then purohit informed to keep three new banda upside down and not to touch it for a week.

A demon arrives at Kannikavana and kicks the Banda kept upside down. Immediately, Devi presents on the spot and was about to slaughter the demon. The demon Kakasura asks for a boon. He says that people of the locality and nearby areas should hold a Mari festival once in a year and give him blood as offering. Devi agrees and kills the demon. So from that time onwards people of all religions offer Hen and sheep as offerings to the devi.

Kandloor is well known through its yearly Mari Pooja. Every year it is celebrated with pomp and gaiety.