Kukke: The historic and archaic Temple in the mid stop natural forest and hills of Sullya taluk of D.K district is most famous for the Snake god worship, Traditional rituals and rites connected with Tulunadu Snake worship followed by lakhs of Tulu Brahmins and common people of the coastal regions. The Shashti festival is the biggest and longest ritualistic and religious celebration of its kind perhaps in India. The Kukke Temple is reputed to be the richest temple in Karnataka, with an annual income close to Rs.100 crores.

The faith shown there by people of D.K districts and other areas is to be seen to be believed. Snake worship of all kinds such as Ashlesh Bali, Maharathotsava and taking a bath in the river etc are followed by all those who visit Kukke during the Shashti had once a year in the last month after Karthika.

Thos year in 2013 the Kukke tradition of open Made Snana, a custom followed by ailing devotees to keep up their health and to get cured of skin disease by rolling over used plantain leaves meal leftovers has come under renewed criticism and attacks seeking a ban on the prevailing tradition, at the hands of non-believers and enemies of Kukke management.

After a series of religious functions from 5 December such as 5-12-2013 Mayuravahanotsava, 6-12-2013 flower car festival, on 7-12-2013 Panchami Car Festival and Oil Bath and on 8-12-2013 Champa-shashti Great car Festival at nights, were gone through without any incident or trouble in the presence of lakhs of devotees at the holy place. Made Snana ritual also took place on all these days in the afternoons at the end of meals.

On Monday the Snake God moves to river Champa to have a bath along with devotees who have under gone strains and stress to complete the Shashti activities day and night. On 9^th the Snake god Vasuki and Mayura Vahana Kumaraswami will have a boat ride in a decorated country boat or Float on the river Champa watched by thousands of visitors and pilgrims.

On 14^th the concluding day the flag of the temple (Kopparige) will be alighted to mark the end of the festival season since November 30^th when the flag had gone up in front of the temple Pole. Same night what is non as Neerubandi (water-Cart) festival will take place at the temple.