Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Sep 25: Mangalore Dasara, or Navaratri, one of the most keenly-awaited festivals of the coastal district, began on a grand note at Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple here on Thursday September 25.

The ten-day festival began with the installation of the nine idols of Goddess Durga in the decorated hall of the temple.

Addressing the gathering after lighting the auspicious lamp, mayor Mahabala Maarla said that Mangalore Dasara is famous not only nationally but internationally too. "Let this festival bring prosperty to everyone," he said.

The Navaratri festival will be officially inaugurated by chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday September 27.

After the formal inauguration, the idols of Sharasa Devi and Nava Durgas were installed by the priests at Swarna Kalamantapa amidst the chanting of hymns and performance of Vedic rituals. The rituals were led by priest Laxmana Shanti.

In these nine days of celebrations, the decorated idols of Sharada Devi and Shaila Putri, Brahmacharini, Chandra Ghanta, Kushmaandini, Skandaputhri, Katyayini, Kaalaratri, Maha Gauri and Sidhidaathri will be invoked

Pili Vesha was a special attraction of the day. Cultural programmes by renowned artistes will be held at 6 pm every day at Santhoshi Kalamantap.

Thousands of devotees flocked to the Temple to seek blessings and participate in the celebrations. The Temple wears a grand bridal look, with the entire premises illuminated.

The celebrations will culminated with a grand procession that will start at 4 pm on October 4 and pass through the main streets of the city.

Malathi Janardhan Poojary, Urmila Ramesh Kumar, Raghavendra Kulur, R Padmaraj, B K Karnath, Ravishankar Mijar, Jaya C Suvarna, Harikrishna Bantwal, Dr B J Suvarna and others were present.