Maha Navaratri 2009 at Kollur Mookambika Temple in Karnataka

Maha Navaratri or Sharada Navratri is the biggest event at Kollur Mookambika temple of Udupi district in Karnataka. Maha Navaratri 2009 celebrations start on Sept ember 19 and ends on 28 September. The festival of Navratri is witnessed by few lakhs of devotees from the State, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. On Saturday, the Kalasha Sthapane puja is held. This ritual followed by ‘Shatarudrabhisheka,’ and some other pujas.

Sharada Sthapane, Chandika Yaga and Rathotsava are some main events during Navratri. The Utsava idol of the temple is taken out for pradakshina around the temple. Purnakumababhisheka is also performed. Mahadeeparadhana and Suhasini Puja are performed daily during nine days of Maha Navaratri in the temple.

On the first day, one Suhasini is offered puja and on ninth day nine Suhasinis are offered Puja. Every day, one Suhasini is added for the Puja. After Suhasini Puja, the women are allowed to enter into the Lakshmi Mantapa, the inner portion of temple. Generally, women are not allowed to enter into the Garbha gudi or other inner portions of the temple.

Vijaya Utsava is the main ritual on performed Vijayadasami during which the Utsava idol of Goddess Mookambika is carried to the Shukla Theertha and brought back to the temple.

Vidyarambha at Mookambika Temple in Kollur:

Vidyarambha ritual is held on Vijaya Dashami in the temple. On September 28 in 2009, rituals such as Sharada Puja and Sharada Visarjane (immersion of Sharada idol) are performed in Saraswati Mandir. This ritual marks the beginning of education for children.

During Vidyarambha, the symbol of ‘Om’ is written on the tongue of children, aged between two and five years with a twig of turmeric. Saraswati Mandir has a great significance in which Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya composed ‘Soundarya Lahari’.

Related Posts:

Durga Navaratri in Vijayawada Kanakadurga Temple

Durga Pooja in Bengal

Vijaya Dashami Celebrations

Dashain Festival