Car Festival marks end of Nava Rathri at Mangaladevi Temple

Car Festival marks end of Nava Rathri at Mangaladevi Temple

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, October 18: The Mangaladevi Temple at Bolar in Mangalore is dedicated to Goddess Mangaladevi, after whom Mangalore is named. The area in which the temple is located is also known as Mangaladevi. The traditional Car Festival of Mangaladevi Temple is celebrated on the day of Vijayadashami, as it has been for hundreds of years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A number of religious and cultural ceremonies are held in Mangaladevi Temple throughout the nine days of Nava Rathri. On the 8th day, the goddess assumes the forms of “Sharadamba,” the deity of education, and on the 9th day, she is worshipped as “Marikamba,” the goddess of valour, the form in which she has destroyed a number of demons.

On Oct 17, Sunday, an image of the goddess was seated on a chariot, which was pulled along a pre-determined route, accompanied by a number of tableaux. In Marnamikatta, the goddess was worshipped.

The glamorous Car Festival marks the end of the Nava Rathri celebrations. A number of dignitaries visited this temple during this festival and worshipped the goddess.