Annual Car Festival of Kadri Temple attracts large crowds of devotees

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 22: The annual Car Festival of Lord Manjunatheshwara Temple, Kadri, was celebrated grandly. Numerous devotees flocked to the temple for a darshan of the lord and to seek his blessings on Jan 21, Thursday.

Following the religious ceremonies associated with the Car Festival, the Utsava Murthy of Lord Manjunatheswara was placed in the main chariot of the temple. When the idol was being brought out of the temple, devotees raised their voices in praise of the lord. They chanted his name and raised devotional slogans. 

The Ababhruta Snana or the holy bath will be done after the idol of the lord is taken in a procession, during which people celebrate by throwing colored powder on one another. At the end of the procession, the lord will be taken to the temple pond for a bath on Jan 22, Friday. 

Before the procession, the Swamiji of Kadri Jogi Mutt arrived on horse back with his devotees. Devotees pulled the main chariot (Brahmaratha), the Chandra Mandala, and the Silver Chariot around the premises of the temple. Prasadam was distributed to the devotees who had flocked to witness the festivities. 

Dozens of shops mushroomed around the temple during these festivities. A number of dignitaries arrived at the temple to offer worship to Lord Manjunatheshwara on the day of the Rathotsava.