Pomp and splendour mark beginning of Mangalore Dasara festivities

Mangalore, September 28: The second most popular Dasara programme in the state - the Mangalore Dasara that showcases the rich culture, tradition, pomp and pageantry of Tulu Nadu, began here on Wednesday and will go on for the next nine days.

Hundreds of people from this coastal city, from different parts of the country and several foreigners gathered at historic Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, Kudroli here to usher in the nine-day festival to mark the victory of good over evil.

The 21st Mangalore Dasara celebration got underway with the formal installation of idols of Navadurgas and goddess Sharada Devi at 11:30 am and offering pooja to them in the presence of dignitaries including Ramesh Kumar of Janatha Constructions, H S Sairam, president of the temple management committee, Raghavendra Kuloor, Maheshchandra, B K Tharanath, Malathy Janardhan Poojary and Harikrishna Bantwal.

During the next nine days of celebrations, the decorated idols of Sharada Devi and nine Durgas i.e. Shaila Putri, Brahmacharini, Chandra Ghanta, Kushmaandini, Skandaputhri, Katyayini, Kaalaratri, Maha Gauri and Sidhidaathri will be invoked to bless the devotees.

Leading artists from different parts of the state will perform cultural programmes till October 5. The Mahotsava will conclude with the grand Dasara procession that will be taken out in the city on October 6.

This procession is expected to pass through Kambla Road, Mannagudda, Lady Hill Circle, Lalbagh, Ballalbagh, PVS Circle, Navbharat Circle, KS Rao Raod, Hampankatta, Government College, Ganapathi High School, Venkataramana Temple, New Chitra Talkies, and Alake. The entire 7 kilo metre procession route has been decked up with lights.

The Mangalore Dasara has gained importance over the years and grown into a 'Janotsava' or 'people's fest'. Janardhana Poojary, former Union Minister, had introduced the concept of Kudroli Dasara, which came to be known as Mangalore Dasara for the first time in 1991. In 1995, tableaux were introduced for the first time in the Dasara procession on the last day of celebrations.

Mangalore Dasara is also called a common man's Dasara as it is not funded by the Government as in Mysore Dasara and people of the city participate actively.