Mangaluru: The historic Mangaluru Dasara and Navaratri Festival 2026 will be celebrated in a grand manner at Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra from October 11 to 22, with a series of religious rituals, cultural programmes, competitions and public events planned throughout the festival.
Padmaraj Poojary said all arrangements have been completed for the celebrations, which will be held under the guidance of B Janardhana Poojary, former Union finance minister and architect of the renovation of the temple.
The temple premises have received special decorations for this year’s festival. A grand Darbar Mantapa, designed in a palace style, will be the centre of the religious celebrations.
CM D K Shivakumar to inaugurate Mangaluru Dasara
The religious rituals will commence on October 11, with the installation of Sri Sharada Mata and the Navadurgas scheduled at noon.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will formally inaugurate the Mangaluru Dasara Mahotsava at 6.30 pm on October 12. Ministers from various departments of the Karnataka government are also expected to participate in the inaugural programme.
The highlight of the celebrations, the historic Mangaluru Dasara Shobhayatra, will commence at 4 pm on October 21.
The procession is expected to be one of the major public attractions of the festival, drawing devotees and visitors from across the coastal region and beyond.
Grand Darbar Mantapa at temple
The temple premises have been specially decorated for the 2026 celebrations.
The newly designed grand Darbar Hall will facilitate the worship of Sri Mahaganapathi, Sri Adishakti, the Navadurgas and Sri Sharada Mata, the goddess of knowledge.
The palace-style Darbar Mantapa has been designed to enhance the visual and devotional experience for devotees visiting the temple during Navaratri.
Along with religious activities, the festival will feature bhajans, dance, music, sports events and various folk art forms.
The organisers said the combination of spiritual and cultural programmes would add to the grandeur of the annual celebrations.
Chandika Homa from October 12 to 20
Chandika Homa will be conducted at the temple every day at 8.30 am from October 12 to October 20.
A special mass Chandika Homa has been scheduled for October 17, with the Poornahuthi to be held at 11.30 am.
Devotees and members of the public will also be allowed to participate in the Chandika Homa, providing an opportunity for people to take part in the religious rituals associated with the festival.
The daily rituals are expected to form an important part of the Navaratri celebrations at the temple.
‘Dasara Kalajhenkara’ to showcase artistes
A major cultural programme titled ‘Dasara Kalajhenkara’ will be organised at the Santoshi Kala Mantapa from October 11 to 20.
Programmes featuring national, international and local artistes will be held every day between 2.30 pm and 11.30 pm.
The organisers have planned a wide variety of performances to cater to visitors of different age groups and interests.
Women achievers from different walks of society will also be honoured every day on the same stage with the ‘Asamanya Stre’ award.
The recognition is intended to highlight women who have made notable contributions to society.
State-level poetry meet and dance competition
A state-level Dasara poetry meet will be held on October 12, along with story and poetry competitions.
On October 13, the second season of the state-level devotional group dance competition ‘Rudratandavam’ will take place from 7.30 pm.
The competition is expected to provide a platform for dance groups to present devotional performances as part of the Dasara celebrations.
The festival schedule also includes several events aimed specifically at children and women.
Makkala Dasara on October 15
‘Makkala Dasara’, a special programme for children, will be held on October 15 and inaugurated at 9 am.
Devotional song, drawing and patriotic song competitions will be conducted as part of the children’s programme.
A ‘Muddu Sharade’ competition has been scheduled for October 16.
The organisers have included these activities to encourage children to participate in the cultural and devotional aspects of the festival.
Marathon and ‘Kinnipili’ on October 18
Dasara Marathon Edition-4 and ‘Kinnipili’ Season 2 will be organised on October 18.
The marathon will add a sporting dimension to the celebrations, while Kinnipili will form part of the cultural and entertainment programme.
The festival’s schedule has been designed to include religious activities alongside cultural, sporting and community-oriented programmes.
Mahila Dasara on October 19
Women will take centre stage during ‘Mahila Dasara’ on October 19.
Several competitions have been planned, including Bharatanatyam, fireless cooking, rangoli, mehendi, group singing and flower arrangement.
A group Garba-Dandiya dance programme for women will also be held at 8 pm.
The organisers expect the event to attract participation from women across Mangaluru and surrounding areas.
‘Dasara Rangantharanga’ on October 20
Various cultural competitions will be conducted under the title ‘Dasara Rangantharanga’ on October 20.
The programme will provide participants with opportunities to showcase their talents through different cultural activities.
With competitions, performances and religious programmes spread across several days, the organisers have planned an extensive calendar leading up to the main Shobhayatra.
Aksharabhyasa in the presence of Sharada Mata
An Aksharabhyasa programme for children will be held at 9 am on October 20 in the presence of Sri Sharada Mata.
Aksharabhyasa is a traditional ceremony marking a child’s initiation into formal learning. The organisers have appealed to parents and members of the public to make use of the opportunity.
The ceremony is expected to be one of the significant devotional activities associated with Sharada Mata during the festival.
Mangaluru Dasara blends faith and culture
The Mangaluru Dasara celebrations at Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra have evolved into a major annual religious and cultural event in the coastal region.
This year’s programme combines traditional Navaratri rituals with cultural performances, competitions, sporting activities and public celebrations.
With daily Chandika Homa, cultural programmes by artistes, special events for children and women, and the grand Shobhayatra scheduled for October 21, the festival is expected to draw large numbers of devotees and visitors.
The organisers said preparations have been completed to ensure that devotees can participate in the religious programmes while also enjoying the wide range of cultural events planned during the festival.
The press conference was attended by Jayaram Somasundar, Harikrishna Bantwal, Leelaksha Karkera and others.