Mangalore: Dussehra celebrations, which is organised by the Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, Kudroli, was held with pomp and pageantry on Friday. The temple idols were taken in a grand procession throughout the city, which was decorated with lights for the whole Navrathri period culminating with the Dussehra celebrations.

Residents of Mangalore and thousands of devotees from other parts thronged the city to witness the grand procession.

Several cultural programmes were also held at the Kshetra Santhoshi Kala Mandap in the evening. On Friday, the procession started at 4 pm and ended at 6.30 pm.

Tableaux, chende (percussion), and traditional dance forms like Yakshagana, Gombe, Karaga, Hulivesha and other arts added to the glitter of the procession. Dance with figures of lion, tiger and bear are the main attractions of festival known popularly as the Mangalore Dussehra.

The 80th Dussehra celebrations of the temple was inaugurated by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Earlier, the ancient Mangala devi temple in Mangalore was famous for Dussehra. Nowadays the Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple is known for Dussehra in this southern coastal town in Karnataka.

Idols of goddesses Sharada were worshiped earlier at the temple, but now idols of Navadurgas and Mahaganapathi are also being worshipped. This practice is on for the past 26 years.All these idols are worshiped for nine days, and on the 10 day, which is Vijayadashami, they are taken out in a procession and the festival would conclude with the immersion of idols in the temple pond 'Pushkarani'.

In 1921, social reformer Sree Narayana Guru had installed Shiva idol at the temple.

Ayudha Puja

A day earlier, on Thursday, Ayudha Puja was held with traditional fervour. People worshipped their vehicles, tools, instruments and other devices on this auspicious day, which is one significant occasion during the Navrathri festivities. Vehicles were seen cleaned and decked up with beautiful flowers. Institutions and business organisations too marked this special day.

Deepotsava

Deepotsava, a vital part of the Vijayadasami celebrations at the Acharya Mutt on the premises of the Sri Venkataraman Temple, stands out. A day before tall lamp stands were put up at the 'Rajangana' of the temple by welding iron rods and glass holders in metal frames. The biggest stand holds about 400 glasses. The lamp stands are assembled in the corridor in front of the idol of Goddess Sharada.

Celebration at airport

The Dussehra celebration was held at Mangaluru International Airport too. The three-day festivities here came to a fascinating end with cultural programmes staged by the students of Srinivas Aviation Management College and staff of different airlines.

The cultural event started with the traditional tiger dance, fusion dances and songs by the students of Srinivas College. The staff, passengers also got into the Dussehra mood and joined the tiger dancers.

Felicitation of sportstars

The temple management committee of Kudroli Gokarnath temple felicitated about 10 sportspersons, including Indian athlete MR Poovamma, who had secured gold medals in international events.

Weight-lifters Pradeep Achaya, Gururaj Poojay, Jagadish Kavu and others were also felicitated by temple renovation committee chairman B Janarshan Poojary.

Around 1000 'Gokarnatha Health cards' were handed over to poor families by the temple authorities. This would enable them to get around 25 percent concession in the total bill amount when they take treatment private hospitals A J and Unity. The temple also hopes to distribute around 10,000 more health cards before the inaugural of the next Mangalore Dussehra.