Mangalore, March 2: Amid various rituals, Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra at Kudroli on Wednesday received a splendid gift, a silver chariot offered by an affluent family in the presence of former minister B Janardhana Poojary and a galaxy of priests.
The ratha was formally dedicated to the temple on the auspicious vrashaba lagnam muhurtha of 12:42 pm coinciding with the period when the annual festival of the temple and Maha Shivarathri festivities, that is being observed with traditional fervour and gaiety.
Gifted to the Sri Kshetra by Ramesh Kumar, Urmila Ramesh Kumar and family, the 4,500 kg ratha had been brought to the Kshetra with pomp and splendour on February 18.
The ratha measures 18.5 feet tall and is 8.5 metres in diameter. The craftsmen who have manufactured this ratha have used 225 kg of silver.
Later, the idol of the presiding deity was carried on the silver ratha, which was followed by 'ratha pooja', 'ratharohana', 'ratha bali' rituals and performance of a 'Mangalarathi'.
Harikrishna Bantwal, spokesperson of the Kshetra, said the idea of donating the ratha was as per the wishes of the Ramesh Kumar family. “Now, the temple management has become the custodian of this offering made by the family in fulfilment of their wishes,” he said.
The ratha with its intricate carvings has become an additional attraction of the Kshetra which has many other attractions for the devotees thronging there.
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