Every year Dassehra in Mangaluru is a grand celebration, and it was no different this year. Here's a look.
Rediff.com's Laxmi Negi brings you glimpses from this year's event.
Photographs: Varun S
![Mangaluru Dassehra Mangaluru Dassehra](//im.rediff.com/news/2019/oct/09dussera-devi.JPG?w=670&h=900)
Whenever the talk of Dassehra celebration arises, the first thing that comes to our mind is the Mysuru Dassehra, which is celebrated with so much of fanfare.
![Mangaluru Dassehra Mangaluru Dassehra](//im.rediff.com/news/2019/oct/09dussera-devi2.JPG?w=670&h=900)
However, Dassehra celebrations are not confined to Mysuru but observed grandiosely across Karnataka, and Mangaluru comes with its own way of celebrating the festival.
![Mangaluru Dassehra Mangaluru Dassehra](//im.rediff.com/news/2019/oct/09dussera-devi3.JPG?w=670&h=900)
Mangaluru's Dassehra sees a grand procession for which most of the roads in the city are decorated with lights to give it a carnival atmosphere for the entire ten day festive period.
![Mangaluru Dassehra Mangaluru Dassehra](//im.rediff.com/news/2019/oct/09dussera-devi4.JPG?w=670&h=900)
The iconic Mangaluru Dassehra events are organised by the century old Gokarnanatheshwara temple, also known as Kudroli temple which is the centre of attraction during the Navratri festival.
![Mangaluru Dassehra Mangaluru Dassehra](//im.rediff.com/news/2019/oct/09dussera-shiva.JPG?w=670&h=900)
Started as Sharada Mahotsava, today it is celebrated in the name of Mangaluru Dassehra.
![Mangaluru Dassehra Mangaluru Dassehra](//im.rediff.com/news/2019/oct/09dussera-kudroli.JPG?w=670&h=900)
The various idols of Sharada Devi along with Maha Ganapthi and Navadurgas are installed during the Navratri in the temple and in the evening of Vijayadashmi a grand procession is organised which ends early morning the next day, with the immersion of idols in the pond inside the temple complex.
![Mangaluru Dassehra Mangaluru Dassehra](//im.rediff.com/news/2019/oct/09dussera-kudroli2.JPG?w=670&h=900)
One of the organisers said, "Fourteen goddesses along with more than 60 floats participated in the procession and the entire 7 km route was illuminated with the lighting. The system was changed this time, with . This the goddess in the front and then other floats followed.
![Mangaluru Dassehra Mangaluru Dassehra](//im.rediff.com/news/2019/oct/09dussera-crowd.JPG?w=670&h=900)
![](//im.rediff.com/news/2019/oct/09dussera-lead.JPG?w=670&h=900)