People power pervades this Dasara

Right from the installation of idols of Sharada and Navadurgas till their immersion on the last day of Navarathri festivities, the celebrations are magnificent. Though Mangaladevi, Kateel Durgaparameshwari and a few other temples too celebrate the Navarathri festivities, the celebrations at Sri Kshethra Kudroli has changed the face of celebrations and popularised the concept of Mangalore Dasara. Every year, the Gokarnanatheshwara temple decks up much before the festivities, which start with the installation of the clay idols of the ‘Nava Durga’. This year, it was held in a grand manner on September 28.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple Development Committee Member and Spokesperson Harikrishna Bantwal said this is the only temple in the world, which installs all the Navadurgas and Sharada idol, in one particular place. The magnificent, larger than life idols, designed by renowned artistes, are immersed on the last day of Dasara.

An important aspect of the Mangalore Dasara is the participation of thousands of people belonging to different caste or creed.

Out of the 50-odd tableaux on different mythological themes, only 14 tableaux belong to the temple and the rest are brought in by various groups from different parts of the three coastal districts — Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod.

Interestingly, there are more than 100 tableaux with attractive themes, but it is very difficult to get the trucks, says Harikrishna and adds that the temple has to bear the expense of dismantling of truck body (to carry tableux) and then construct the body again.

In addition, 1,000 persons carrying 1,000 colourful umbrellas, all from Thrissur in Kerala, a ‘Kolata’ troupe from Andhra Pradesh, a ‘Chende’ troupe from Thrissur, a 100-member band troupe from Bangalore, several tiger and bear dance groups, the Kalladka dolls and the illumination of either side of the road throughout the 7-kms distance of the procession is literally a feast for the eyes of lakhs of public.

Come October 6 and almost all the Mangalore roads will be closed for the traffic. The procession, which starts around 4.30 pm, would pass through all the prominent roads in the City and culminate at the temple premises on the following day at around 6 am.

Quite interestingly, the entire concept of ‘Mangalore Dasara’ was introduced by former Union minister B Janardhan Poojary way back in 1991 when the renovated temple was inaugurated by Rajiv Gandhi.

Breaking caste barriers

The Shiva Linga in this temple was installed by social reformer Narayana Guru in 1912, at a time when caste system ruled the roost.

The step has been considered revolutionary, for it had liberated the backward classes from the clutches of upper castes. They got a temple of their own, and even today the affairs of the temple are managed by the Billava community. Compared to the ‘royal’ background of Mysore Dasara, Mangalore Dasara stands unique.

Poojas performed for Navadurgas and Sharadamatha are the specialty of Kudroli festivities. Interestingly, the idols of the nine incarnations of Goddess Durga, namely Shailaputhri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamatha, Katyayini, Kalarathri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri, are made in the temple premises itself by expert artists.
The temple also has a 13-foot high idol of Lord Anjaneya and an idol of Brahmashree Narayana Guru. Lord Sri Gokarnanatha (another form of Lord Shiva) is the presiding deity.

Today the temple attracts devotees from all religions and communities – one can even find burkha-clad women and nuns here. With the temple committee deciding to honour widows (irrespective of caste or creed) this year, the temple not only symbolises “Unity in Diversity,” but is also a living testimonial to the vision of great social reformer Brahmashree Narayana Guru.