Mangalore, April 19, 2013:
Text and Photos by C D Souza
The three-day “Sri Ramotsava” took off to a grand start today, Apri 19, 2013 at Nehru Maidan, Mangalore with traditional poojas and religious ceremonies like Sita-Rama Pratisthapane, Go Pooja, Mahaganapathi Ganahoma.
The celebrations began with the hoisting of flag by L D Ballal in the presence of Pushpraj Jain, President of Ramotsava Committee and a large number of dignitaries and devotees. Sri Ramotsava the three-day festival is jointly organized by Sri Ramotsva Samiti in association with Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajranga Dal, Mathr Mandali and Durga Vahini.
This has been the 12th year of Sri Ramotsava being held in the city. Various religious and cultural programmes are being organized during the three days of celebrations.
The celebrations are attracting devotees in large numbers to Nehru Maidan. The special attraction is the 25 feet tall effigy of Ravana installed at the venue of the festivities. A replica of Ram Mandir is also a major crowd puller.
The three-day festivities will conclude with Ravana Dahana (burning of Ravana’s effigy) on Sunday, April 21, 2013, the last day of the festivities.
As part of the cultural programme Sri Lalitha group of Kishore D presented Kannada a mythological Kannada drama “Bhookailasa” directed by M K Seetharama Kulal.
