Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Nov 18: The annual Laksha Deepotsava of, the historically famous, Lord Kundeshwar temple here ended on a glorious note on Friday, November 17.

This festival of lights is held annually on Kartika Bahula Amavasya day as per Hindu calendar. As part of the programme, a special puja was offered to Lord Kundeshwar. Devotees chanted Bhajans, various cultural programmes were held, and community feast was arranged. In the evening, as part of Laksha Deepotsava, countless devotees got the Darshan of the Lord by lighting the earthen lamp.

Laksha Deepotsava of the temple is literally a community festival because of the fact that almost everyone from the town makes it a point to visit the temple on this day. Car festival with the chariot bedecked with flowers, and Katte Puja of the Lord were also initiated on the occasion. The entire town of Kundapur bathed in innumerable colourful lights. Cultural programme organized by various institutions added to the glitter of the Deepotsava.

Procession of Utsava Murthy

In the morning, Shatarudrabhisheka, Mahapuja and Maha Mangalarathi followed by distribution of Prasadam were held in the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Kundeshwar. At night, Ranga Puja and Maha Mangalarathi were performed, following which the Utsava Murthy (idol of the Lord) was taken in procession.

Car festival was also celebrated during this occasion. Then the city procession of the idol of the Lord started and went on till 5 am. Various attractions like music of Nagaswaram, traditional instruments, folklore dances, Tattiraya, display of fire tricks, gymnastics with sticks, beating of drums like chende and dollu, dancing horse, veeragase, drums of Nasik, puppet dance etc. increased the splendour of the procession.

The procession which started from the temple, took a turn near the new bus stand, went up to Hanglur Geleyara Balaga, and arrived at the car street on early morning on the following day.

Katte Puja

People set up colourfully decorated platform like structure called 'Katte' at various spots on the route. The Lord's idol was received with reverence and devotion at each of this Katte and sent off after performing puja ritual. The Katte Puja takes about 20 minutes, at the end of which Panchakajjaya is distributed to the devotees. This time, Katte Puja was performed to Lord Kundeshwar in about 16 places.

Teppotsava

A special raft made by joining two country boats together is used for Teppotsava held in the temple pond. Along with the Lord's idol, temple Tantry, priests, and persons holding torches board this raft which then floats around the pond thrice.

The reflection of earthen lamps lining up all sides of the pond creates a magical ambience on this occasion. Thereafter, puja was performed to the idol at the platform of holy fig tree in the temple and also 'Ashtavadana' puja. One more 'Katte puja' was performed at the outer ring of the temple. This was followed by the offering of coconuts to the revered stone installed on the perambulation path by breaking them on the stone.

Thereafter, the idol was taken around the outer precinct of the temple, after which finally, it was carried inside the sanctum sanctorum.

The whole city reverberated with the cultural extravaganza, which included, the Yakshagana, musical and variety entertainment programmes conducted by various organizations. While the Musical programme was organized at the new bus stand, old bus stand witnessed Yakshagana. Cartoon festival was displayed at Rotary Bhavan and various programmes were held at Shastri circle also.