Grand rituals, 1,500 artistes & the iconic tiger dance usher in Mangaluru Dasara

Pics: Ravi Posavanike

Mangaluru has exploded into a vibrant spectacle for Dasara, with the Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple at its heart. This year’s festival is defined by three major highlights: the commencement of grand temple rituals, a massive cultural showcase featuring over 1,500 artistes, and the electrifying energy of the traditional tiger dance (hulivesha). The tiger dance, or hulivesha, is a traditional folk dance, where dancers paint their bodies with stripes and don tiger masks to imitate the movements of a tiger, symbolising strength and valour.

Upholding age-old traditions
As part of the rituals, idols of Mahaganapati, Sharada, Adishakti, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Mahakali, Mahagauri, Siddhidhatri, Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, and Kushmandini Devi were ceremoniously installed. The ceremonies included Gurupuja, Homa, and Navakalasha Abhisheka, after which Goddess Sharada was brought in a grand procession within the temple premises before being installed in the Darbar Hall. The Navarathri Mahotsava also began on a grand note at the Mahathobhara Sri Mangaladevi Temple.

Jugalbandis, Saptaveena performances, magic shows and more
This year’s celebrations at Kudroli promise a cultural feast, with around 40 troupes and over 1,500 artistes selected by a committee. The programmes span Bharatanatyam, folk dances, devotional dance dramas, Yakshagana, musical dramas, Talamaddale, Harikatha, Jugalbandis, Saptaveena performances, magic shows, and explorations of the Navarasas. Artistes from across India participated in the daily showcases, presenting art forms in Kannada, Tulu, and other languages.