Shivaratri observed with religious fervour in dist

Mahashivaratri was celebrated with great devotion, fervour and gaiety across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, on Tuesday.

Thousands of devotees thronged Shiva temples especially  Kadri Manjunatheshwara temple, Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple, Sri Somanatheshwara temple at Someshwar  to offer special pooja for the occasion. Poojas, homa and other religious and cultural programmes were conducted in various temples.

The devotees who observed fasting since morning offered ‘bilvapathre,’ ‘Ekka flower’ to the Lord.  A large number of devotees were seen at Kadri temple since morning. 

Maha Shivaratri normally arrives during the month of Margashira, according to the Hindu calendar. ‘Rudrabhisheka,’ ‘shivapooja’ was offered by the devotees. The sellers who were selling bilvapathre and ekka flowers  outside the temples were making quick bucks by selling the essential pooja materials.  Meanwhile, a large number of devotees visited Sri Kshethra Dharmastala on Monday itself. In fact, majority of devotees had come walking to Dharmasthala from various parts of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hassan and Kodagu to take part in rituals.Devotees from far away places have formed their own Padayatra Seva Samitis and visit the temple in batches. The padayatris included children and women as well. Reciting the name of Lord Shiva, the devotees have been accepting all help that people enroute have provided them. After bathing in Netravathi river and obtaining darshana of the presiding deity, they met Dharmadikari D Veerendra Heggade. Veerendra Heggade felicitated a group of 15 members from HAL Padayatre Seva Samithi, Bengaluru who have been visiting Dharmasthala through padayatre for the last 25 years.