Mangaluru Dasara 2026 to Begin on October 12; CM D.K. Shivakumar to Inaugurate
Mangaluru: The historic Mangaluru Dasara and Navaratri Mahotsava 2026, a symbol of the coastal region’s religious and cultural heritage, will be celebrated with grandeur at Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple from October 11 to 22.
The festivities will be held under the guidance of former Union Finance Minister B. Janardhana Poojary, who spearheaded the renovation of the temple. All arrangements for the grand celebration have been completed, said Padmaraj Poojary.
The temple premises have been specially decorated for the occasion. At the grand Durbar Hall, beautifully crafted idols of Sri Mahaganapathi, Sri Adishakti, the Navadurgas and Goddess Sharada, the deity of knowledge, will be installed and worshipped.
Bhajans, dance, music, sports events and various folk art performances will add colour to the celebrations.
The Vedic rituals will begin on October 11, with the installation of Goddess Sharada and the Navadurgas scheduled for noon. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will inaugurate the Mangaluru Dasara celebrations at 6.30 p.m. on October 12. Ministers from various departments of the Karnataka government are expected to attend the programme.
The historic Mangaluru Dasara Shobhayatra will be flagged off at 4 p.m. on October 21.
Chandikahoma will be conducted daily at the temple at 8.30 a.m. from October 12 to 20. A special mass Chandikahoma will be held on October 17, with the Poornahuti scheduled for 11.30 a.m. The public will also be allowed to participate in the ritual.
The ‘Dasara Kalajhenkara’ cultural programme will be held at the Santoshi Kala Mantapa from October 11 to 20. Cultural programmes featuring national, international and local artistes will be staged daily from 2.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.
Women achievers from different fields will also be honoured with the ‘Asamanya Stree’ award each day at the venue.
A state-level Dasara poetry meet, along with story and poetry competitions, will be held on October 12. On October 13, the second season of ‘Rudratandavam’, a state-level devotional group dance competition, will be held from 7.30 p.m.
‘Makkala Dasara’ (Children’s Dasara) will be held on October 15 and inaugurated at 9 a.m. It will feature competitions in devotional songs, drawing, and patriotic songs.
The ‘Muddu Sharade’ competition will be held on October 16, while the fourth edition of the Dasara Marathon and the second season of ‘Kinnipili’ will be held on October 18.
‘Mahila Dasara’ (Women’s Dasara) will be organised on October 19, featuring competitions in Bharatanatyam, fireless cooking, rangoli, mehendi, group singing and flower arrangement. A group Garba-Dandiya dance by women will be held at 8 p.m.
‘Dasara Rangantharanga’, featuring various cultural competitions, will be held on October 20.
An ‘Aksharabhyasa’ ceremony for children will be conducted at 9 a.m. on October 20 in the presence of Goddess Sharada. The organisers have urged the public to make use of the opportunity.
This year, the Durbar Mantapa, where idols of Sri Mahaganapathi, Sri Adishakti, the Navadurgas and Goddess Sharada will be installed, has been designed in an attractive palace-style setting.
Jayaram Somasundar, Harikrishna Bantwal, Leelaksha Karkera and others were present at the press conference.
