Janardhana Poojary inaugurates M'luru Dasara at Kudroli Temple

Mangaluru: Former Union minister B Janardhana Poojary inaugurated Mangaluru Dasara 2024 at Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple on Thursday. The idol of Sri Sharada was taken in a procession and installed at the Darbar Hall of the temple in the presence of Poojary, who is the chief patron of the temple. Idols of Sri Mahaganapathi and Navadurge have also been installed at the Darbar Hall on the occasion.

While poojas and rituals will be offered to the idols of Sri Sharada, Sri Mahaganapathi, and Navadurge, lakhs of devotees are expected to visit the temple. An idol immersion procession will commence from the temple premises on Oct 13 at 4pm.

As part of the tradition, pilivesha (tiger dance) was performed in front of the Sharada idol on the inaugural day. Thousands thronged the temple on the first day of the festival. Festival rituals have also begun at Sri Mangaladevi Temple, Urwa Marigudi, Venkatramana Temple, and several other temples in the city on Thursday.

The streets of Mangaluru have been decorated with miniature bulbs as devotees and tourists from various parts of the country and abroad are expected to arrive during Dasara. Kudroli Temple managing committee treasurer Padmaraj R said the shrine has been celebrating Sharada Mahotsava every year since 1935. The Mangaluru Dasara, with the installation of Navadurge, Adishakti, and Maha Ganapathi idols, has been celebrated for the past 35 years, he said.