Mangaluru: The grand Mangaluru Dasara and Navratri celebrations commenced with immense pomp and splendour at the historic Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple on Sunday, marked by the traditional installation of the idols of Goddess Sharada along with other deities.As part of the festival rituals, dynamic worship and installation ceremonies were conducted for Mahaganapathi, Goddess Sharada, Adishakthi, and the Navadurga avatars—Skandamatha, Katyayani, Mahakali, Mahagouri, Siddhidhatri, Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, and Kushmandini.The morning religious rituals began with Guruprarthana, followed by Punyahahoma and Navakalashabhisheka. At 12 pm, the idol of Goddess Sharada was brought in a grand procession around the temple premises accompanied by saxophone music, brass bands, traditional chende teams, and tiger dancers (Huli Vesha), before being seated at the main Darbar Mantapa.Thousands of devotees witnessed the auspicious installation ceremony amid energetic Tiger Dance performances and reverberating beating of drums.Former Union minister and the architect of the temple’s development, B Janardhana Poojary, formally inaugurated the Navratri and Dasara festivities by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Several dignitaries, including Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath, Kudroli Temple Management Committee president Jayaraj H Somasundaram, vice-president Urmila Ramesh Kumar and treasurer Padmaraj R Poojary were present.Padmaraj said that Mangaluru Dasara has received a grand start, and the grand cultural procession will be held on Oct 21. “A huge turnout of devotees was witnessed on the very first day, and we expect record crowds throughout the festival. The temple administration has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure a seamless experience for all visitors,” he said.Navratri celebrations also began at the historic Mahathobhara Sri Mangaladevi Temple with a special prayer offered to Mahaganapathi.
