Mangaluru: The 10 day long Mangaluru Dasara celebrations of Shree Gokarnanatha Temple at Kudroli commenced on a grand note on October 10, Wednesday with the installation of the idols of Goddess Sharada, Nava Durgas and Lord Ganapathi at the Temple Auditorium.

Mahabaleshwara M S, Managing Director of Karnataka Bank inaugurated the Navaratri festivities in the presence of senior Billawa leader and former union minister B Janardhana Poojary, Temple Committee President HS Sairam and other office bearers.

Earlier the idol of Goddess Sharada was brought to the Temple Hall in a procession accompanied by the beating of drums as well as the Huli Veshadharis. A large number of devotees were present on the occasion.

The Mangaluru Dasara celebrations will be formally inaugurated by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on October 14.