Pomp and splendour mark beginning of Mangalore Dasara festivities

September 28, 2011

Mangalore, September 28: The second most popular Dasara programme in the state - the Mangalore Dasara that showcases the rich culture, tradition, pomp and pageantry of Tulu Nadu, began here on Wednesday and will go on for the next nine days.

Hundreds of people from this coastal city, from different parts of the country and several foreigners gathered at historic Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, Kudroli here to usher in the nine-day festival to mark the victory of good over evil.

The 21st Mangalore Dasara celebration got underway with the formal installation of idols of Navadurgas and goddess Sharada Devi at 11:30 am and offering pooja to them in the presence of dignitaries including Ramesh Kumar of Janatha Constructions, H S Sairam, president of the temple management committee, Raghavendra Kuloor, Maheshchandra, B K Tharanath, Malathy Janardhan Poojary and Harikrishna Bantwal.

During the next nine days of celebrations, the decorated idols of Sharada Devi and nine Durgas i.e. Shaila Putri, Brahmacharini, Chandra Ghanta, Kushmaandini, Skandaputhri, Katyayini, Kaalaratri, Maha Gauri and Sidhidaathri will be invoked to bless the devotees.

Leading artists from different parts of the state will perform cultural programmes till October 5. The Mahotsava will conclude with the grand Dasara procession that will be taken out in the city on October 6.

This procession is expected to pass through Kambla Road, Mannagudda, Lady Hill Circle, Lalbagh, Ballalbagh, PVS Circle, Navbharat Circle, KS Rao Raod, Hampankatta, Government College, Ganapathi High School, Venkataramana Temple, New Chitra Talkies, and Alake. The entire 7 kilo metre procession route has been decked up with lights.

The Mangalore Dasara has gained importance over the years and grown into a 'Janotsava' or 'people's fest'. Janardhana Poojary, former Union Minister, had introduced the concept of Kudroli Dasara, which came to be known as Mangalore Dasara for the first time in 1991. In 1995, tableaux were introduced for the first time in the Dasara procession on the last day of celebrations.

Mangalore Dasara is also called a common man's Dasara as it is not funded by the Government as in Mysore Dasara and people of the city participate actively.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Who is Ramachandra Rao? Karnataka DGP, actress Ranya’s stepfather suspended over viral ‘obscene’ video

News Network

January 20,2026

Karnataka DGP (Civil Rights Enforcement) K Ramachandra Rao was suspended with immediate effect, as per a state government order issued on Monday, 19 January. The order cited conduct unbecoming of a government servant and causing embarrassment to the state administration.

The Karnataka government suspended Rao after a purported video showed him in a compromising position with a woman inside his official chamber. The video went viral on social media. Rao rejected the videos outright, terming them "fabricated and false".

Who is K Ramachandra Rao?

Rao is a DGP-rank officer who was heading the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement until his suspension. He was promoted to DGP in September 2023 and assumed office in October 2023, the Sunday Guardian reported.

He also served as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.

His stint as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Southern Range was also marred by controversy. In 2014, during a cash seizure near Mysuru’s Yelwal, officials claimed the seized amount was ₹20 lakh, while the accused (Kerala-based merchants) claimed it was around ₹2.27 crore.

Rao, who was present during the seizure, denied all allegations. However, he was transferred soon after.

Allegations of collusion with a businessman surfaced, and a senior police officer was quoted by The Sunday Guardian as saying, “In Rao’s case, the CID has clearly mentioned that there was a great degree of lapse on the part of Rao and a deputy superintendent of police after it was brought to their notice that a few policemen, including a gunman attached to the IGP, were involved in the robbery.”

Rao had denied all wrongdoing in that incident. Despite past controversies, he rose to the state’s top police position, the Sunday Guardian reported.

Ranya Rao’s stepfather

Rao is the stepfather of Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, accused of orchestrating the illegal import of gold worth over ₹12.56 crore from Dubai to India along with two others — businessman Tarun Raju, and jewellery dealer Sahil Jain.

‘Obscene video’ controversy

A viral video showed Rao behaving inappropriately with a woman inside his office while in uniform.

The Karnataka government said in its Monday order that “vide videos and news reports widely broadcast on public news channels and media platforms, it is observed that Dr K Ramachandra Rao has acted in an obscene manner which is unbecoming of a Government Servant and also causing embarrassment to the Government.”

The order said the matter was examined by the state government, which found that the officer's conduct amounted to a violation of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968.

The government said it is prima facie satisfied that "it is necessary to place Rao under suspension with immediate effect, pending inquiry".

During the suspension period, Rao will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per Rule 4 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.

The order also places restrictions on his movement, stating that during the period of suspension, the officer must not leave headquarters under any circumstances without the written permission of the state government.

Comments