Mangaluru Dasara and Navaratri celebrations will be held at the Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple from October 11 to 22, with a 12-day programme that includes cultural events, competitions, public worship and a major procession through the city. The temple administration committee has also said the state government has promised ₹1.5 crore for the festival.
Padmaraj R. Poojary, treasurer of the temple administration committee, announced the programme at a press conference. He said a palace-style darbar pavilion was being specially prepared for the installation and worship of Mahaganapathi, Adi Shakti, the Navadurgas and Goddess Sharada.
The celebrations will begin with the installation of Sharada and the Navadurgas at noon on October 11. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is scheduled to inaugurate the festival at 6.30 pm on October 12, according to the committee. The programme will retain the events held last year, while the procession is scheduled to begin at 4 pm on October 21.
Daily Chandikahoma rituals will be held at 8.30 am from October 12 to 20. A mass Chandikahoma is planned for October 17, followed by the purnahuti at 11.30 am. At the Santhoshi Kala Mantapa, cultural programmes will run daily from 2.30 pm to 11.30 pm between October 11 and 20. Nine individuals will also receive the ‘Asamanya Stree’ award during the celebrations.
The public programme includes a state-level poetry gathering, story and poetry competitions on October 12, a devotional group dance competition on October 13, Children’s Dasara on October 15 and a ‘Muddu Sharade’ competition on October 16. A Dasara marathon and Kinnipili competition are scheduled for October 18.
Women’s Dasara will be held on October 19, with Bharatanatyam, no-fire cooking, rangoli, mehendi, group singing and flower-arranging competitions. A women’s dandiya programme is scheduled for 8 pm that day. Dasara Rangataranga cultural competitions will be held on October 20, when children can also take part in an aksharabhyasa ceremony at 9 am.
The committee said three individuals and three organisations would be honoured during the festival. Police Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Reddy, for efforts to curb the spread of narcotics in Mangaluru; Professor Vivek Rai, who worked in the early campaign for recognition of the Tulu language; and theatre personality Sadananda Dandakere are scheduled to be felicitated on October 20. Representatives of Sevanjali Foundation in Farangipete, Snehalaya in Manjeshwar and Hidaya Foundation in Punjalakatte will be honoured on October 18. Asian Games gold and silver medallist athlete M.R. Poovamma will be felicitated on October 12.
The temple committee said it had sought ₹2 crore from the government for the festival and had received an assurance of ₹1.5 crore. It also said Mangaluru City Corporation has handled the city’s festival illumination for the past five years, whereas the temple had previously arranged it. During the celebrations, shops outside the temple premises will be managed by the city corporation, according to the committee.
