Mangalore Dasara Mahotsava at Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple Will Be Held From October 3 to13

The Navaratri and Mangalore Dasara Mahotsava will be held at the Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple from Oct 3 to 13. The Dasara festival will be flagged off by former Union minister B Janardhan Poojary with the installation of the idols of Navadurge and Sharada on Oct 3. The Dasara Mahotsav will begin with the guru puja celebrations followed by various rituals. The Mangalore Dasara procession with idols of Mahaganapathi, Navadurge, Sharada and colourful tableaus and cultural programme troupes will commence from the temple premises on Oct 13 at 4pm. The idols will be immersed in the temple lake in the wee hours of Oct 14.

Committee treasurer Padmaraj R said as part of the festival, rituals like Durga homa (Oct 4), Panchadurga homa (Oct 5), Arya Durga homa (Oct 6), Ambika Durga homa (Oct 7), Bhagavathi Durga homa (Oct 8), mass Chandika homa (Oct 9), Mahishamardini Durga homa (Oct 10), Chandika homa hagalotsava (Oct 11), Saraswati Durga homa (Oct 12) and Vageshwari Durga homa (Oct 13) will be held.

The temple will hold a half marathon covering 21km as part of the Dasara celebrations from 5.30am on Oct 6, Padmaraj said. Nearly 2,000 people are likely to take part in the half marathon. Cultural programmes will be held from 6pm at the temple premises during the festival.