Mangaluru Dasara preparations have entered their final stage, with illuminated streets, decorated temples, cultural programmes and expanded religious tours planned across Mangaluru and Udupi from October 11 to 22. The celebrations are expected to draw thousands of devotees from Karnataka and abroad for prayers, processions and other events.
The main Mangaluru Dasara celebrations will be held at Sri Gokarnanatha Temple in Kudroli. Idols of Sri Mahaganapathi, Sri Adishakthi, the Navadurgas and Sri Sharada will be installed at the temple on October 11. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is scheduled to formally inaugurate the celebrations at 6.30pm on October 12 at the temple premises.
The grand Mangaluru Dasara procession will begin from Kudroli Temple at 4pm on October 21, with the celebrations concluding on October 22. The temple has also scheduled spiritual and cultural programmes during the festival period. Streets around temples have been illuminated and temporary shops have been set up in anticipation of increased visitor activity.
Several prominent temples in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are also preparing for Navaratri and Dasara events. They include Mangaladevi Temple, Kateel Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Uchila Sri Mahalakshmi Temple, Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple, Maroli Suryanarayana Temple, Bolar Sri Mariyamma Temple, Polali Sri Rajarajeshwari Temple, Hosanadu Kodyadka Sri Annapoorneshwari Temple, Bappanadu Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Sasihithlu Sri Bhagavathi Temple, Kudroli Sri Bhagavathi Temple, Chitrapura Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple and Sri Urwa Mariyamma Temple.
The temples have planned a range of activities alongside religious ceremonies. These include Muddu Sharade fancy-dress competitions, the Kinni Pili tiger-cub competition for children below eight, Aksharabhyasa ceremonies, poets’ meets and cultural programmes. Tiger dance troupes and Marnami Vesha performers are also expected to participate in events in the coastal districts.
At the historic Mahathobhara Sri Mangaladevi Temple, Navaratri celebrations will begin on October 11. The temple’s schedule includes Mahanavami on October 20, Vijayadashami and Maharathotsava on October 21, Avabhritha Mangala Snana on October 22 and Samprokshane on October 23.
The Udupi-Uchila Dasara festival will be held at Sri Kshetra Uchila Sri Mahalakshmi Temple from October 11 to 21 under the aegis of the Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha. Idols of the Navadurgas and Sri Sharada will be installed at the temple’s Darbar Mantapa. Shivakumar is scheduled to visit the temple on October 12, while a procession will be held on October 21.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s Mangaluru division has started Dasara package tours from Mangaluru and Udupi bus stands to several religious destinations. Rajesh Shetty, senior divisional controller of the KSRTC Mangaluru division, said all 23 buses scheduled from Mangaluru on the first day were full and that additional buses were being added as seats were occupied. The Mangaluru-Sigandur and Mangaluru-Kollur packages have received a strong response, according to the official.
The next scheduled milestone is the installation of idols at Kudroli Temple on October 11, followed by the formal inauguration on October 12 and the main procession on October 21.
