Five days celebration of annual festival at Kattingeri Temple

Report by Eugene Moodubelle

Moodubelle, 20 March 2010: The five days celebration of the annual festivities at Shree Brhamalingeshwara Temple at Kattingeri from 14th March came to an end on 18th March 2010 with ‘Shuddha Samprokshane’, that is, the ritual cleansing of the temple following the celebrations.

The five days festivities, both religious and cultural, have been the chief attraction of Shree Brahmalingeshwara Temple at Kattingeri for many years. This year, the annual festival began on the Meena Sankramana on 14th March in the morning with Navaka Pradhana Homa (The Main Nine Kalasha Homa), Kalabhisheka, hoisting of the Garuda Pata and Mahapuje. In the evening offerings were made to subsidiary deities in the temple and Naga. Similar religious rituals were conducted on each of the days of the annual festival. At noon, food was served to all the devotees and villagers who were present in the temple.

The Varasare Utsava was performed in the evening of 16th March. On 17th March, the Utsava statue of the temple smeared with colours was taken in procession to the river and on the way Katte Puje was performed at ten places before reaching the river at Dindottu near Pamboor. The devotees too were smeared in colours in gaiety. In the river, the Utsava Murthi was given ceremonial dip and the devotees too followed dipping in the water thrice. On returning from the river, the Garuda Pata was lowered thus indicating the end of the festivities.

On each day of the annual festival, cultural programmes were organised in the premises of the temple. On Sunday, 14th March 2010, Mrs. Malathi Bhat and Mrs. Vidya Bhat presented devotional songs. Later, Bhajan Mandalis from different regions such as Karndadi-Kaup, Marne, Manibettu and Kattingeri gave their devotional performances. On Monday, 15th March 2010 the students of Shree Mahabhaleshwara Hindu Higher Primary School, Edmer presented variety entertainment programme from 7.30 pm followed by the Yakshagana presentation titled “Shree Kateel Kshetra Mahatme” from the Yakshagana group of Kateel. This Yakshagana presentation was sponsored by Mr. Raghavendra Rao of Hosabettu, Suratkal. On Tuesday, 16th March 2010 dance and variety entertainment programme was presented jointly by the members of the Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project of Moodubelle, Padubelle and Kattingeri villages. Fr. Paul Sequeira, Principal of St. Lawrence Composite PU College, Moodubelle graced the variety entertainment programme.

Mr. Devdas Hebbar, who has been chosen as the Managing Trustee of Shree Brahmalingeshwara temple following the demise of his father, expressed happiness at the successful conclusion of the five days annual festival of the temple in which a large number of devotees and villagers, irrespective of their religion and caste had taken part. He expressed his gratitude to each and every in the village for their cooperation and participation in the festivities of the temple. Mr. Hebbar further informed that next year there will be ‘Rathotsava’ for which a huge Ratha costing around 19 lakhs of rupees would be constructed. Besides, efforts will be made to provide facilities to the devotees such as guest rooms, kitchen and store room at the temple.