Immersion of Goddess Sharada idol marks end of Navarathri

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 25, 2012: The 22nd Mangalore Dasara procession was just as grand as the Mysore Dasara, with huge crowds of devotees flocking to the Kudroli temple to witness the scene on Oct 23, Tuesday. It lasted all night. Guided by Shri Gokarnatheshwara Temple of Kudroli, it turned out to be the second best procession in the state.

The procession comprised more than 70 dance troupes, music groups, and tableaux, extending over a stretch of 5 kilometers. The highlights of the event were large, life-size clay statues of the Navadurgas, such as Mahakali, Mahagowri, Shailaputri, Kathyayini, Chandraghanta, Brahmacharini, Skandamatha, and Siddhidharthi. The procession was accompanied by 25 folk dance troupes from all over Karnataka and its neighboring states. These dance troupes included Dollu Kunitha, Somana Kunitha, Hulivesha, Yakshagana, and Karaga troupes from Bangalore, Gombe Mela from Kalladka, colored umbrella dancers from Trichur, panchavadya and chende troupes from Kerala, Veeragasae from Shimoga, drummers from Pune, Kolata troupes from Andhra Pradesh, and several local groups, which added life and color into the procession.

The tableaux included mechanized as well as human models enacting scenes from the puranas.

The procession passed through Alake, Mannagudda, Lady Hill, M. G. Road, Navabharath Circle, and K. S. Rao Road before returning to Kudroli, where the Navadurgas were immersed in the water tanks of the temple.

The Mangalore Dasara owes its grandeur and success to the efforts of B. Janardhan Poojary, Billawa community leader and senior Congress leader. Today, the event draws lakhs of people not only from India, but also from other parts of the world.