The ten day Dasara festival in Mangalore begins on September 26, Monday. Religious rituals and cultural programmes related to Mangalore Dasara will begin at the Kudroli Gokarnanatha temple here on September 26. B. Janaradhan Poojary will light the lamp on September 26 and formally begin the 10-day long programme. Padma Shri recipients Harekala Hajabba and Amai Mahalinga Naika, Mangalore MLAs D. Vedavyas Kamath and Y. Bharath Shetty and other dignitaries will take part.

During the 10-day long festival there will be pushpalankaara at 12.30 p.m. and bhajan programmes between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. and cultural programmes in the evening. Lunch will be served to all devotees. The grand Shobha Yatra of idols of Sharada Maata and Nava Durgas will start at 4 p.m. on October 5. Folk art groups from different parts of the country and tableaux will be part of the Yatra. Arrangement has been made for parking of more than 500 vehicles at places around the temple.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is likely to take part in the festivities, which will be held till October 6.