Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SP/RJP)
Mangaluru Jan 25: ’Okkuli’ or festival of colours was celebrated with full zest at Car Street in city on Thursday, January 25, as part of the final day of the six-day annual Car Festival of Sri Venkataramana Temple.
'Avabhruta Snana' or ‘Okkuli’ is the last of the rituals associated with the annual festival, in which people soak one another with colours and coloured water.
Large number of devotees thronged into the premises of Sri Venkataramana Temple to take part in the Okkuli Habba and enjoyed splashing coloured water on each other.
Sweets and fruit juices were distributed to the devotees to mark the celebration.
Young people danced to the loud music pumped in through high wattage systems as statues of Lord Venkataramana and Goddess Padmavathi were carried in the Pallakki.
Okkuli is one of most colourful festivals of city where thousands take part piously every year.
Ecstatic devotion, mood of celebration overflows at Kodial Teru
The five-day festivities associated with the annual car festival of Lord Venkataramana temple belonging to GSB community, which is also famously known as 'Kodial Teru', culminated with the pulling of 'Hodu Teru' on the night of Wednesday January 24. .
The presence of Sri Samyamindrateertha Swamiji, spiritual head of Kashi Math, added to the attraction of this glittering festival. On this occasion, the Swamiji dedicated the newly made golden aureole and golden cardamom chain to the Lord. The Swamiji also symbolically lent his land along with people in pulling of the chariot in which Lord Venkataramana's idol was seated.
The Lord's idol was brought to the chariot on golden palanquin at about 5.30 pm on Wednesday. The Lord was installed inside the chariot at around 6.05 pm after the customary tradition of going around the chariot was completed as the devotional chanting of 'Srimadramaramana Govinda' rent the air. After the Lord was enshrined in the chariot, people came in droves to perambulate the chariot, which they believe, purifies them of their sins.
On behalf of the devotees, trustee of the temple, M Padmanabha Pai and other trustees accepted the Prasadam. Prasadam was also offered to noted donor, Mundkur Ramadas Kamath and others. MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and former MLA, N Yogish Bhat, were among those who graced the occasion.
Various services were offered to the Lord and oblation was performed to satisfy the divine, followed by 'Poornahuti' in the evening. Over 50,000 people partook food in the form of 'Prasadam' at night at the temple on the occasion.