Navarathri and Dasara Festivities begin with devotion across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 3, 2024: Navarathri and Dasara festivities kicked off on Thursday at various ‘Devi’ temples in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, including the renowned Mangaladevi, Kudroli and Kollur Mookambika temples.

In Mangaluru, streets were illuminated, and cutouts of Sharada Devi near key junctions drew public attention. At Mangaladevi temple, the celebrations began with a Mahaganapati prayer at 9 a.m., followed by the Mangala Seva Samiti offering ‘silver hands’ to the deity in the presence of Padmanabha Tantri. On Vijayadashami, the committee plans to serve food to devotees. Throughout the day, several devotees visited the temple and explored the 50-plus stalls set up along the road.

At Kudroli temple, senior Congress leader B. Janardhan Poojary offered prayers to mark the start of the 10-day ‘Mangaluru Dasara.’ Rituals for the installation of Nava Durga and Sharada Mata idols were conducted, with ongoing rituals planned for the duration of the festival. Over 100 stalls, selling food and goods, lined the roads leading to the temple. A mass Chandika Homa is scheduled for Wednesday.

The festivities also commenced at Durgaparameshwari temples in Kateel and Bappanadu, Sri Venkataraamana temple in Car Street and several other temples, including the Kollur Mookambika and Mahalakshmi temples and Udupi Krishna Mutt.