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Mangaluru:2016: Sea of humanity gathered at Car Street here on Sunday February 14 to partcipate in the annual Car Festival or ‘Kodial Teru’ or ‘Dodda Teru’ of Shree Venkataramana Temple in Mangaluru.
The five-day event of the Gauda Saraswat Brahmin community is a commemoration of the divine union of Lord Venkataramana and Goddess Padmavathi. This four century-old temple also provides an opportunity to the devotees to mix together and meet their friends, class mates, and relatives from various parts of the world at least once during the annual car festival.
Before being seated in the elaborately decorated chariot, the idol of Lord Venkataramana was taken in a procession in a golden palanquin around the sanctum sanctorum, accompanied by musical instruments, bhajans and devotees, who repeatedly chanted the name of the Lord in loud voices.
The idol was installed on the chariot by Sri Samyameendrateertha Swamiji, Patta Shishya of Sri Sudheendrateertha Swamiji, spiritual head of Kashi Math.
The idols of Lord Venkatesha was placed in a golden palanquin and taken round the outer perambulatory path of the temple, before being installed in the silver chariot. The chariot was then pulled through Car Street by thousands of devotees who had come from every nook and corner, including other states.
The devotees, young and old let themselves to be swayed by merriment. The festival is also known as Kodial Theru in which men and women participate equally in the religious and cultural celebrations.
The festival is not only celebrated by the GSB community but also by the all people of Mangalore irrespective of their caste and creed.
