Navaratri: Temples in coastal region crowded

Mangaluru/Udupi: Amid COVID-19 scare, temples in the city witnessed a large number of devotees on the auspicious occasion of Navaratri. Kateel, Polali, and Kollur saw huge crowds as Goddess Durga is worshipped mainly during this festival and it is believed that the Goddess is in a benevolent mood during the Navaratri.

As October 18 was the first Sunday of Navaratri, a large number of devotees made a beeline for various temples of the city. However, the temple management had made suitable arrangements to allow a hundred devotees into the premises at a time, as per the district administration instructions. The devotees too cooperated with the management by wearing face masks.

Thousands of devotees visited Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatheshwara since Sunday morning. Sri Mangaladevi Temple too saw a large number of devotees.

Polali temple witnessed an inflow of devotees right from morning to night. In Kollur too use of sanitizers, wearing masks.

‘Kateel temple cancels Aksharabhyasa’

‘Aksharabhyasa’, which used to be held on Vijaya Dashami day too has been canceled in Kateel Durgaparameshwari temple. The temple also stated that devotees cannot have the Darshan of the Goddess between 3 and 5 pm every day during the Navaratri festival as the idol of the goddess has to be decorated in a special way.

Meanwhile, ‘Shesha Vastra’, clothes which were once used to adorn the deity, to women devotees on Lalita Panchami day has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.