Udupi: In Tulunadu, after the spirit worship by Nemotsava and Kola on Nadavali, it is Mari Pooja that is quite popular down the ages. In Kaup(or Kapu), there are 3 Mariamma temples which were offered worship by devoted local agricultural and fishing people on March 27 Tuesday, and again, on Wednesday.

The festival drew huge crowds as devotees from DK and Uttar Kannada districts, Udupi, Shimoga and Kasaragod towns besides people from Chikkamagalur and Mumbai.

The temples, which attract people who bring sacrificial animals (sheep and goats), and birds (roosters), and cut them before old Mari temple, new Mari temple, and Moorane(third) Marigudi as well, to offer blood to their wild deities, were crowded.

CIP Shivanand Valekar and his team of hundreds of police officials were present to provide security to the traditional Mari Pooja Ceremonies in Kaup.