Mangaluru: Curtains fall on the common man’s Dasara here in the city on a grand note as always. The victory of good over evil was complemented with over 18 lakh bulbs lighting up Mangaluru and a heavy shower for ten minutes to cool things down.
The procession took off from Gokarnanatha temple at six in the evening after the usual poojas and rituals. The idols were carried by temple volunteers to the entrance of where they were mounted on the tableaux which waited outside.
Janardhana Poojary, the man who took lead in introducing worship of nine Goddesses was seen actively taking part along with the temple head authorities and Member of Legeslative Assembly, J R Lobo. The temple as usual at this time every year was buzzing with people from all over Dakshina Kannada and neighboring districts.
The Mangaluru Dasara procession moves at a snail’s pace with all the fervor of festivities relished by the people who view it. A number of artistes joined the procession from other districts of Karnataka. The team of Kuruba (shepherds and farmers) musicians from Bagalkot was seen leading the procession with their traditional dance and music form accompanied by a divine bovine.
A traditional dance form of Lingayat (Shiva worshippers) clan from Chikamagaluru, ‘Veeragaase’ also performed in Mysuru Dasara enthralled the people with their vigorous dance with a dagger and shield prop. A Karnataka Rajyotsava Award winning traditional music troupe from Shivamogga led by Ramanna Bhajantri played some of the people’s favorite tunes on their Shehanais (Indian Clarinets).
Between the boulevard of various coloured umbrellas on either side of the road, the tableaux of the nine avatars of Goddess Durga were seen. Ganapathi, Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraganta, Kushmandini, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaraatri, Maha Gauri, Siddhadaatri and Sharada Devi were carried with extreme care on a tableau each. Temple volunteers were making way for the trucks to move and were even seen waiting for the devotees to finish clicking picture before they moved.
Thousands of people thronged the procession and were seen moving up and down the entire stretch of it and more were seen clicking pictures of the procession and uploading them on their preferred social media networks. It is also learnt that 43,510 people tagged the temple in their posts and check-ins.
