Mangaluru : The grand shobhayatra of Mangalore Dasara accompanied by Navadurga and Lord Ganesha idols and tableaux along with dances by various folk artistes marked the end of the nine-day long Dasara celebrations at the Kudroli Gokarnanatheswara Temple here on Friday.

The idol of Lord Ganesha was in the forefront of the procession which was followed by Adishakti, Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kooshmandini, Skandamata, Katyayini, Mahakali, Mahagowri, Siddidatri and Sharada.

People participated in large numbers in the two processions that went on till the early hours of Saturday. There will be another procession to mark the Dasara celebration on the Car Street on Saturday evening.The procession of Navadurga idols and tableaux as a part of ‘Shobha Yatra’ was behind the schedule at the Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple. It took nearly three hours to perform puja to each of the Durga idols installed at the temple and then put them on the vehicles remodelled as chariots.

Senior Congress leader B. Janardhana Poojary felicitated a host of people, including district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai and Health Minister U.T. Khader. The process of idols and tableaux started around 7.30 p.m.

After passing the Kudroli temple, the procession passed thorough Mannagudda, Lalbagh, PVS Circle, Hampankatta, University College, Ganapati High School Road and Alike. The processionwas likely to end by 6 a.m. on Saturday.

The city was decorated to welcome the procession. As the procession passed through the illuminated streets, devotees offered poojas, flowers and fruits to deities.

Including the tableaux of idols, a total of 40 tableaux have participated in the procession. The city was decked with 20 lakhs bulbs throughout the 9 km stretch arranged by 25 electrical contractors.

The Navaratri festival concluded at the Kudroli temple with the immersion of Sri Sharada idol at Pushkarani after Balipooje, Mantapabali and Mantapa Pooja.