Mangaluru: Illuminated streets, colourful decorations and bustling temporary stalls outside temples are setting the festive mood across Mangaluru and Udupi as temples put the finishing touches to preparations for Navaratri, which begins on Sunday, October 11. The celebrations are expected to attract thousands of devotees from across Karnataka and abroad for religious ceremonies, grand processions and cultural programmes.

Mangaluru Dasara, a major celebration of the coastal region’s religious and cultural heritage, will be held from October 11 to 22 at Sri Gokarnanatha Temple in Kudroli. Several prominent temples across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have also lined up special rituals, competitions and cultural events for the nine-day festival.

Mangaluru Dasara begins at Kudroli Temple

The grand Durbar Hall at Sri Gokarnanatha Temple will house the idols of Sri Mahaganapathi, Sri Adishakthi, the Navadurgas and Sri Sharada, the goddess of wisdom. A series of spiritual and cultural programmes has been planned as part of the annual celebrations.

The festivities will begin with the installation of the idols on Sunday, October 11. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will formally inaugurate Mangaluru Dasara at 6.30 pm on Monday, October 12, at the temple premises.

One of the major highlights will be the grand Dasara procession, scheduled to begin at 4 pm on October 21. The procession is expected to draw large crowds as decorated tableaux, cultural performances and traditional elements bring the city’s festive celebrations to the streets.

The celebrations at Kudroli Temple will conclude on October 22.

Major temples across coastal Karnataka prepare for Navaratri

Several temples in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are preparing to welcome devotees during Navaratri. Among them are Sri Mangaladevi Temple, Kateel Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Uchila Sri Mahalakshmi Temple, Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple, Maroli Suryanarayana Temple, Bolar Sri Mariyamma Temple, Polali Sri Rajarajeshwari Temple, Hosanadu Kodyadka Sri Annapoorneshwari Temple, Bappanadu Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Sasihithlu Sri Bhagavathi Temple, Kudroli Sri Bhagavathi Temple, Chitrapura Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple and Sri Urwa Mariyamma Temple.

The programmes planned at various shrines include ‘Muddu Sharade’ fancy dress competitions, ‘Kinni Pili’ competitions featuring children dressed as tiger cubs, Aksharabhyasa ceremonies for children, poets’ meets and other cultural events.

These activities offer families and children opportunities to participate in the celebrations beyond the customary religious rituals.

The historic Mahathobhara Sri Mangaladevi Temple will begin its Navaratri celebrations on Sunday. The festival will feature important rituals throughout the period, culminating in Vijayadashami and the temple’s Maharathotsava.

Uchila Dasara to feature Navadurga idols and grand procession

The Udupi-Uchila Dasara festival will be celebrated at Sri Kshetra Uchila Sri Mahalakshmi Temple from October 11 to 21 under the aegis of the Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha.

The idols of the Navadurgas and Sri Sharada will be installed at the temple’s Darbar Mantapa as part of the celebrations.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is scheduled to visit the temple on Monday, October 12. The festival will culminate in a grand Dasara procession on October 21.

Traditional performances are expected to add colour to the celebrations, with tiger dance troupes and performers in ‘Marnami Vesha’ set to be among the attractions.

Uchila Dasara has emerged as an important festive event for devotees and members of the Mogaveera community, combining religious observances with cultural traditions associated with the coastal region.

Mangaladevi Temple schedules key Navaratri rituals

At Sri Mangaladevi Temple, the celebrations will begin on October 11, with a series of religious observances scheduled through Vijayadashami.

Mahanavami will be observed on October 20, followed by Vijayadashami and the Maharathotsava on October 21. The Avabhritha Mangala Snana will take place on October 22, while Samprokshane is scheduled for October 23.

The temple, which is closely associated with Mangaluru’s name and religious heritage, is expected to receive devotees throughout the festival.

The scheduled rituals form an important part of the annual Navaratri observances, when devotees offer prayers to the goddess and participate in special ceremonies.

KSRTC Dasara package tours receive good response

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s Mangaluru division has started special Dasara package tours from the Mangaluru and Udupi bus stands to various religious destinations.

The services have received a strong response, with all 23 buses scheduled to operate from Mangaluru on the first day reportedly running full.

“We are adding buses as seats fill up. The Mangaluru-Sigandur and Mangaluru-Kollur packages have received a good response,” said Rajesh Shetty, senior divisional controller of the KSRTC Mangaluru division.

The package tours are intended to help devotees visit prominent religious destinations during the festive season. The response on the opening day indicates demand for organised travel services during the Dasara period.

Additional buses are being arranged as bookings fill up, according to the official.

Cultural programmes add to the festive atmosphere

Beyond temple rituals, competitions and performances are expected to be major attractions during the celebrations across the coastal districts.

The ‘Muddu Sharade’ fancy dress competitions will give children an opportunity to dress up as the goddess Sharade, while ‘Kinni Pili’ competitions will feature children below eight years of age dressed as tiger cubs.

Aksharabhyasa and Vidyarambha ceremonies will also be held at selected temples, introducing young children to the formal beginning of their education through traditional religious observances.

Poets’ meets and cultural programmes will provide additional platforms for local artistic expression. Traditional tiger dances and Marnami Veshas are expected to draw attention during the larger celebrations and processions.

With major temples preparing for large gatherings, the festive atmosphere is already visible across Mangaluru and Udupi. The combination of religious ceremonies, cultural performances, family activities and special transport services is expected to make the Navaratri period a busy time for the coastal districts.

As the celebrations begin on October 11, devotees will have opportunities to participate in rituals at prominent shrines, attend cultural programmes and witness the grand processions that form an integral part of coastal Karnataka’s Dasara traditions.

Key dates: Mangaluru Dasara 2026

  • October 11: Installation of idols at Kudroli Temple; Navaratri celebrations begin.
  • October 12, 6.30 pm: Formal inauguration of Mangaluru Dasara by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
  • October 20: Mahanavami at Sri Mangaladevi Temple.
  • October 21, 4 pm: Grand Mangaluru Dasara procession; Vijayadashami and Maharathotsava at Sri Mangaladevi Temple.
  • October 22: Conclusion of Mangaluru Dasara; Avabhritha Mangala Snana at Sri Mangaladevi Temple.
  • October 23: Samprokshane at Sri Mangaladevi Temple.