Curtains down on Mangalore Dasara

Idols of ‘Navadurgas’ along with Mahaganapathy and Sharada were taken in procession, which was embellished by decorative umbrellas, tableaus, bands, chende and traditional dances. Yakshagana characters, dollu kunitha, gombe, karaga, hulivesha and other traditional artforms made the procession more vibrant.

Thousands of devotees awaited with devotion to get the glimpses of goddess Sharada and other deities. People decorated their houses and business premises and arranged ‘hannukayi,’ ‘arati’ and other offerings to the deities on the route. Tourists from various parts of the nation and foreginers too witnessed the festivity with much enthusiasm.

The idol procession commenced from the Kudroli Sri Gokarnatheshwara temple at around 4 pm.

The idol of Mahaganapathi followed by Navadurgas- ‘Adishakthi’, ‘Shailaputri’, ‘Brahmacharini’, ‘Chandraghanta’, ‘Khushmandini’, ‘Skandamatha’, ‘Kathyayini’, ‘Mahakali’, ‘Mahagauri’, ‘Siddhidatre’ and ‘Sharada Matha’ proceeded through the streets to reach back the temple for immersion in ‘Pushkarini’, the pond in the temple. The procession passed through Alake, Mannagudda, Lady Hill, Lalbaugh, M G Road, PVS, Navbharath Circle, K S Rao Road, Hampankatta Circle, GHS Road, Car Street and New Chithra talkies to reach Kudroli temple for immersion.

All streets in the City were decorated with electric bulbs to welcome the procession. Elaborate arrangements were made by the Mangalore City Corporation, district administration and the police prior to the commencement of the procession. Movement of all vehicles were banned on all roads, through which the procession passed.

In Mangaladevi

The Ratotsava as part of the Navaratri celebrations of famous Sri Mangaladevi temple too was celebrated with pomp and gaiety on Sunday.

Dasara festival was celebrated with much fervour at Mangaladevi temple and on ‘Vijaydashami,’ which is the last day of Dasara, the idol of Goddess Mangaladevi was taken out for ‘bali puje.’

The idol of Sri Mangaladevi was placed in a beautifully decorated Ratha (chariot) and was taken in a procession near the temple.