Udupi: The Udupi Uchila Dasara Mahotsava concluded on Wednesday, Vijayadashami, with grand religious ceremonies, mass prayers and a spectacular immersion procession featuring hundreds of tableaux at Sri Mahalakshmi Temple in Uchila. Thousands of devotees gathered to participate in the concluding celebrations and seek the blessings of the goddess.
The festival, which commenced on Sunday, October 11, brought together devotees, cultural groups and prominent personalities for days of religious observances and festive programmes. The concluding day featured special pujas, a mass Chandika Yaga, community dining and a colourful procession carrying the festival deities through the streets.
The celebrations reflected the religious significance and cultural vibrancy of Uchila Dasara, which has become an important annual event for devotees in the coastal region.
Special pujas and mass prayers mark Vijayadashami
The final day began with the Udaya Puja and mass prayers at the shrine of Sri Mahalakshmi. The Mahapuja was subsequently conducted under the guidance of temple Tantri Kukkikatte Raghavendra Tantri and chief priest Raghavendra Upadhyaya.
A mass Chandika Yaga was performed as part of the religious observances, culminating in the Purnahuti, the concluding offering of the ritual.
Following the ceremonies, prasadam was distributed among devotees. Thousands then participated in the Maha Annasantarpane, the community meal organised as part of the celebrations.
The arrangements enabled devotees to participate in the concluding rituals, offer prayers and receive the blessings of Sri Mahalakshmi on Vijayadashami.
Bhajana Sankirtane was also held during the day, adding a devotional dimension to the festivities. This was followed by Mahamangalarati to Sri Sharadamba and the Navadurgas.
Visarjana rituals precede grand procession
The afternoon programme included the Visarjana Puja, which commenced at 2.30 pm. The Sri Mahalakshmi Kallokta Puja and Mahamangalarati were conducted in the evening as part of the concluding religious observances.
The grand immersion procession began at 3 pm, drawing large crowds of devotees and spectators. Colourful displays and hundreds of tableaux formed a major attraction, adding scale and vibrancy to the procession.
One of the most striking moments came when flowers were showered on Sri Sharadamba from a drone, creating a spectacular visual display for those gathered to witness the celebrations.
The combination of religious rituals, decorated vehicles and cultural presentations made the procession a highlight of the concluding day.
Dr G Shankar inaugurates immersion procession
Udupi Uchila Dasara organiser Nadoja Dr G Shankar formally inaugurated the grand procession by performing arati to Sri Sharadamba.
The utsava murti of Sri Mahalakshmi of Uchila was placed on a specially designed replica shaped like an elephant. The idols of Sri Sharadamba and the Navadurgas were carried in separate vehicles as part of the procession.
The arrangements provided a distinctive visual identity to the celebrations, with the deities forming the centrepiece of the procession. Devotees gathered along the route to witness the ceremonial movement of the idols and participate in the Vijayadashami festivities.
The immersion procession brought together the religious traditions associated with the festival and the participation of local communities, cultural groups and devotees.
Hundreds of tableaux add colour to Uchila Dasara
The participation of hundreds of tableaux was among the defining features of the grand procession. Their colourful displays contributed to the festive atmosphere and drew the attention of people who had gathered to witness the event.
The procession showcased the role of cultural participation in Uchila Dasara, complementing the temple’s religious ceremonies with public celebrations.
The drone-based flower shower on Sri Sharadamba added a modern visual element to the traditional festivities. Such displays, alongside the decorated vehicles carrying the deities, made the concluding procession a major attraction for devotees and visitors.
The celebrations also provided an opportunity for people from different parts of the coastal region to come together in a shared religious and cultural gathering.
Public representatives and community leaders attend
Several prominent personalities participated in the concluding celebrations, including Udupi Uchila Dasara organiser Nadoja Dr G Shankar, Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha president Jaya C Kotian Bellampalli and secretary Sharan Kumar Mattu.
Others present included temple administration board president Giridhar Suvarna, Udupi-Uchila Dasara Committee president Vinay Karkera, MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty, Yashpal Suvarna and KPCC Campaign Committee president Vinay Kumar Sorake.
Mohan Bengre, Dinesh Yermal, Manoj Kanchan, Satish Kundar Malpe, Vasudeva Salian, Gundu B Amin, Ratnakar Salian Malpe, Vishwas Amin, Sandhyadeepa Sunil, Kavita Sharath and temple manager Satish Amin Padukere were also among those who attended.
Their participation reflected the involvement of representatives from religious institutions, community organisations and public life in the annual celebrations.
Uchila Dasara concludes amid devotion and celebration
The conclusion of the Udupi Uchila Dasara Mahotsava on Vijayadashami brought the festival’s religious observances and public celebrations to a close. From the morning pujas and Chandika Yaga to the community meal and grand immersion procession, the final day drew thousands of devotees to Sri Mahalakshmi Temple.
The specially designed vehicle carrying the utsava murti of Sri Mahalakshmi, the separate vehicles for Sri Sharadamba and the Navadurgas, and the hundreds of tableaux added to the grandeur of the event.
With mass participation, traditional rituals and elaborate visual displays, Uchila Dasara once again highlighted the enduring place of faith and cultural traditions in the festive life of coastal Karnataka.