Mangaluru Dasara celebrations begin at Kudroli Temple with grand inauguration and cultural festivities

Mangaluru Dasara celebrations begin at Kudroli Temple with grand inauguration and cultural festivities

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 22, 2025: The 10-day Dasara festivities at Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple were inaugurated on Monday, September 22, by Jitakamanandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Mission, Mangaluru, and Brahmakumari Vishweshwari Ji, Head of Brahmakumaris, Mangaluru, in the presence of former Union Minister and temple development patron B Janardhan Poojary.

The inauguration included the installation of Navadurga and Goddess Sharada idols. Goddess Sharada’s idol was brought in a simple procession within the temple premises, accompanied by a traditional tiger dance performance. Congress leader R Padmaraj, MLA Vedavyas Kamath, MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, and other dignitaries attended the event.

 

 

 

 

Over the nine-day festival, numerous cultural competitions and devotional programmes will be held, including dance, drawing, and Rudra Tandava contests. This year’s celebrations highlight the blend of Vedic traditions, religious devotion, cultural splendor, music, art, literature, and sportsmanship, all centred on the worship of Navadurga.

Cultural and Social Highlights

On September 22, NMPT Chairman Dr Venkataraman Akkachuraju and Union Bank of India, Mangaluru Zone Head Rajendra Kumar, inaugurated the cultural programmes. Institutions such as Sanidhya Special School, White Doves Mangaluru, and M Friends Charitable Trust were honoured for their social contributions. Bharatanatyam artistes Remona and Deeksha Suvarna, listed in the Golden Book of World Records, were felicitated.

 

 

 

The official Dasara Mahotsava inauguration will take place on September 25 at 6 pm under the chairmanship of B Janardhan Poojary, in the presence of Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader, MP and AICC leader K C Venugopal, district-in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, and other dignitaries. A mass Chandika Homa will be conducted on September 28 at 9 am.

Cultural Programmes

This year, around 40 troupes and over 1,500 artistes will perform Bharatnatyam, folk dances, devotional dance dramas, Yakshagana, musical dramas, Talamaddale, Harikatha, jugalbandis, Saptaveena performances, magic shows, and a medley of Navarasas.

Literary Events

On September 23, a multilingual poets’ meet will be held from 4 pm to 6 pm in collaboration with Rangasangathi Cultural Foundation, presided over by Kannada Development Authority Chairman Dr Purushothama Bilimale. Poets will recite in Sanskrit, Kannada, Arebhashe, Beary, Konkani, Havyaka, Kundagannada, Koraga, Shivalli Tulu, and Tulu languages. A separate Tulu poets’ meet will also be conducted, and selected entries from a postal poetry competition will be released as a compilation.

Competitions

Muddu Sharade & Navadurges Contest: September 24, 9 am onwards (children)

Dasara Classic Bodybuilding Contest: September 26 (state-level youth competition)

Dasara Marathon: September 28, 4 am; 21K, 10K, 5K, and 2K sari runs, total prize Rs 1 lakh

Children’s Dasara: September 28, 9:30 am; competitions in kinnipili, painting, and music, inaugurated by child prodigy Agnivu

Extraordinary Woman Award – 2025

From September 22 to October 2, one woman achiever will be honoured daily at 7:30 pm for contributions in social service, medicine, literature, theatre, and more. Recipients include Vanaja Poojary, Venkamma Kudambettu, Shalet, Sushila Panar, Yogakshi Ganesh, Janaki Kodyadka, Tabassum, B M Rohini, and Rohini Jagram.

Religious Observances

Daily rituals and bhajans will be conducted throughout Navaratri. Special homas include Durga Homa (Sep 23), Panchadurga Homa (Sep 24), Aryadurga Homa (Sep 25), Ambikadurga Homa (Sep 26), Bhagavati Durga Homa (Sep 27), Chandika Homa (Sep 28), Mahishamardini Durga Homa (Sep 29), Saraswati Homa (Oct 1), and Vagishwari Durga Homa (Oct 2). The festival concludes on October 3 with Sri Sharada Visarjane, Avabhrutha Snana, and Guru Puja at 8 pm.

Grand Procession

On October 2, a grand procession led by B Janardhan Poojary will begin at 4 pm from the temple, carrying the idols of Navadurga, Ganapati, and Sharada Mata through major city landmarks before returning to the temple.