Mangalore, September 26: Harikrishna Bantwal, the trustee of the committee, said in a press conference that the Navarathri Utsav, also known as the Mangalore Dasara, will commence at Kudroli Gokarnanatha Kshetra on September 28 to October 5.  He added that this is the only temple in the world where the idols of Sharada and the Navadurgas are installed in one place. 

Former Union minister B Janardhana Poojary will launch the website on the information on ‘Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple’ on September 29, Thursday at 11.30 am.

He will also inaugurate the new ‘Ratha Mandir’ required to keep the silver chariot donated by Ramesh Kumar and Urmila Ramesh Kumar last year.

The consecration of the Navadurgas and goddess Sharada will mark the beginning of the Mangalore Dasara celebration on September 28, Thursday at 11.35 p.m. The nine-day festival will comprise a number of cultural and religious programme. 

On October 3, Monday at 9.30 am the temple authority under the leadership of B Janardhana Poojary, about 1,500 women who have lost their spouses will be giving sarees, blouse piece, flower, bangles and kumkum after holding a special chandika homa at the temple at their presence. They will also be asked to pull the silver chariot with the God, around the temple. If anyone comes forward to marry a widow, then Kudroli kshethra will arrange for the marriage free of cost, he address.

Every day, special poojas will be offered to the newly installed idols of Mahagowri, Kathyayini, Mahakali, Brahmacharini, Shailaputhri, Kushmandini, Siddhidhatri, and Skandmatha—all different avatars of Goddess Durga. 

On the last day, on October 6, Thursday, a grand procession will start at 4.30p.m. from Kudroli Temple and will pass through Mannagudda, M. G. Road, Alake, and Ram Bhavan Circle, before heading back to Kudroli, where all the idols will be immersed.  More than 50 tablaux will be a part of procession, he added.

President and Administrator Officer H. S. Sairam, Shri Gokarnatha Kshethra, Vice President Raghavendra Kulur, Padmaraj R., and others were present for the press conference.