Udupi: Over 2,000 devotees thronged the Mahishamardhini temple at Kadiyali on Sunday, with Zeal and faith to offer worship and obtain blessings of the goddess, who resides in the temple and presides over their destinies.

It was the annual car festival ceremony that led the people to the hoary temple, in ‘Kodiyali Utsava’ to see a bedecked car-pulling event.

Men and Women who came wanted also to see cultural programmes, have a feast and meet friends in a happy atmosphere.

The car-pulling event took place later in the day. Musical instruments and bhajans, a colourful procession full of puppets and holy chants, a huge chariot drawn by strong ropes, were all there calling everyone to participate in, without care.

The temple was illuminated in many ways, designs and colours, to appreciate even linear patterns. There were delight ful fireworks and frightening sounds of explosives, and fire arrows rushing out into skies in the main area of the Jatra.