Pic: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Oct 8: Mangaluru Dasara will be inaugurated by Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on October 14 and also Gokarnanatheswara health card will also be released on this occasion, informed temple treasurer Padmaraj R.
Addressing media here on Monday, October 8, Padmaraj R said, "Navarathri festival will begin at 9 am on October 10, after which images of Goddess Sharada and nine forms of Goddess Durga would be installed at 11.50 am the same day. This will be inaugurated by Karnataka Bank's managing director, Mahabaleshwara M S. Thereafter, special puja and community feast will be held every day. Cultural programmes will be organised every day from 6 pm onwards. The grand immersion procession will begin at 4 pm on October 19 from the temple premises.
“During this Navarathri, various cultural events will be held from October 10 by various artistes. Earlier we have distributed health and education scholarships and social welfare funds worth Rs 20 lac. This Dasara we are releasing Gokarnanatheshwara health card for 1,000 families of BPL card holders. We have signed a deal with AJ hospital. They will provide up to 25% discount to the patients of BPL card holders who avail this health card,” he added.
“This time around cultural teams from different parts of the district will take part in the procession. We have also decided to cut short procession time. Earlier, it used to take 16 hours to complete the procession, so this time we have decided to shorten it up to 12 hours. We can start procession from 4 pm to end next day morning at 4 am,” he added.
Temple president H S Sairam, Vice President Raghavendra Kulur and others were present.