Udupi: The fifth edition of Udupi Uchila Dasara will be held from October 11 to 21, bringing 11 days of religious ceremonies, cultural programmes, exhibitions and community activities to Sri Kshetra Uchila in coastal Karnataka.
The festival will take place at the Shrimathi Shalini Dr G Shankar Auditorium and is being organised by the Dakshina Kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha with support from the Karnataka government, the Department of Kannada and Culture, and devotees.
The annual celebration has attracted growing attention over the past four years. This year’s programme will feature the installation and worship of Navadurga and Sri Sharada Devi, daily religious rituals, cultural performances, competitions and special events for women and children.
Uchila Dasara celebrations begin on October 11
The festival will formally begin on October 11, with the installation of the idols of Navadurga and Sri Sharada Devi scheduled for 9 am. The rituals will be conducted under the guidance of Kukkikatte Raghavendra Tantri and chief priest Raghavendra Upadhyaya.
The exhibition, information camp, entertainment programmes and fairground will open at 10 am. The official inauguration of Uchila Dasara 2026 is scheduled for 10.30 am, with Minister K S Basavanthappa set to inaugurate the festival.
Udupi district in-charge minister Rizwan Arshad, Minister U T Khader and Minister Rudrappa M Lamani are also expected to attend the inaugural programme.
The venue will feature a variety of displays and activities intended to appeal to visitors of different ages and interests. Attractions include fish-themed installations, grain-based artwork, public-awareness exhibits, flower and bird displays, handicrafts, Channapatna toys and artworks created by persons with disabilities.
Traditional crafts and demonstrations, including leather musical instrument making and bullock-powered oil extraction, will also feature in the exhibition.
Chief Minister to inaugurate Women’s Dasara
One of the key highlights will be Women’s Dasara on October 12 at 3 pm. Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is scheduled to inaugurate the programme.
Organisers will also felicitate Shivakumar in recognition of the decision to accord Tulu the status of the state’s second administrative language, according to the report.
The special programme is expected to draw women from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring areas, adding a community-focused dimension to the religious celebrations.
The festival’s organisers have included a range of cultural and social activities alongside the traditional worship, making the event a platform for religious observance, local arts and community participation.
Daily rituals and religious programmes
Religious activities will continue throughout the 11-day festival. Chandikahoma will be performed daily from 9 am to noon, followed by Maha Annasantarpane from noon to 3 pm.
Prasada distribution is scheduled for 6.30 pm, while married women will participate in collective Kumkumarchane from 5.30 pm to 6.15 pm. Bhajans, religious discourses and other spiritual programmes will also be organised during the festival.
On Vijayadashami, the concluding day of the celebrations, a collective Maha Chandikayaga and Maha Poornahuti will be performed.
The daily rituals are expected to attract devotees seeking to participate in the worship and religious activities associated with Navaratri.
Cultural programmes and competitions planned
Uchila Dasara will feature a varied cultural lineup, including devotional music, folk and classical dance, dance dramas, saxophone performances, classical music and veena recitals.
Performances by All OK’s team, Kerala’s Sithani Bhajans team, Natyanilayam Manjeshwar, Puttur Jagadish Acharya and Alva’s Cultural Vaibhava are among the listed attractions.
The programme will also feature Tulu theatre, including the comedy play Raghu Mastru and the play Mahimeda Appe Bhagavathi.
Competitions planned during the festival include a Sri Sharada Devi fancy-dress contest for children, Hulivesha competitions for men and women, Kinni Pili dance competitions for children, drawing and rangoli contests, district-level wrestling and a state-level bodybuilding competition.
Collective Kunitha Bhajana, group Dandiya dancing and a Dasara poets’ meet will add further variety to the celebrations.
Special illumination from Padubidri to Kaup
Preparations for the festival also include special illumination along the stretch from Padubidri to Kaup beach. The lighting is scheduled to be inaugurated on October 10 at 6.30 pm, ahead of the main festivities.
The illumination is expected to contribute to the festive atmosphere in the coastal area as devotees and visitors prepare for the celebrations.
With religious ceremonies, cultural performances, exhibitions and competitions spread across 11 days, Uchila Dasara is expected to bring together devotees, artists, families and visitors from across the region.
Uchila Dasara strengthens coastal Karnataka’s cultural calendar
The annual celebration has developed into a prominent religious and cultural event in coastal Karnataka. Its programme combines traditional worship with local language theatre, music, dance, handicrafts and activities that showcase regional heritage.
The fifth edition continues that approach, with a schedule designed to accommodate both devotees and families visiting the venue.
The festival will conclude on October 21, following days of religious observances and public programmes. Organisers have invited devotees and the public to participate in the celebrations at Sri Kshetra Uchila.