Pics: Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala
Karkala, Mar 29: Tradition came alive at the annual Siri Jatre and Ayanotsava held on Wednesday March 27 at Lord Mahalingeshwara Temple in Nandalike here.
A procession comprising of 20 cultural troupes was led by Temple administrator N Sundarama Hegde from the Aramane building to the Temple premises.
The event was marked by 'Sridarshana', 'Kardideepotsava', 'Karadeepa Kattepuja', 'Sri Kumara Abbuga-Daraga Darshana Vesha' and 'Ayanotsava Bali', which went on till early morning.
In the afternoon, the devotees were offered meals, in practice traditionally called 'Annasantarpane'.
This temple has a history of over a thousand years.The festival is famous for a unique custom meant to rid the women who happen to be in a trance after allegedly having been possessed by ‘Siri’, by driving the external power out of their bodies by the ‘Patri’ possessed by Kumara.
Thousands throng the temple during the period of the festival, where month-long festivities like Ambodi Utsava, Bali Utsava, Abbaga-Daraga Chennemane, Deepotsava, are held for the appeasement of Lord Shiva and other deities like Siri, Naga, Kumara, Abbaga and Daraga.
Thousands of devotees took part in the rituals.