CANACONA
The ‘Mahashivratri Utsav’ will be celebrated with great enthusiasm at Sri Mallikarjuna Temple at Shristhal in Canacona on February 18.A huge number of devotees are expected to visit the temple on the occasion of Mahashivratri because of the presence of Swayambhu Shivlinga at the Shristhal Temple.
The Mahajans and Kulavis of Shree Mallikarjun Dev reside across the entire Gomantak and Uttara Kannada region of Karnataka and visit Sristhal on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, to pay their obeisance and offer their services to God.
On Saturday, the Shrins Abhishekam will start from 8 am in the temple as devotees who will be seated in groups in the temple will be anointed collectively by the Brahmins. The Maha Abhishek will be held at 1 pm followed by Mahapuja, Aarti and Mahaprasad, states a press note by the Devalaya committee.
In the evening between 7 and 8 pm, Pawan Abhay Pai Khot, the 12-year-old disciple of the famous kirtan artiste Suhas Vajhe Bua, will perform Kirtan. After that, a procession will be taken out on the Shri Ambari Rath at 8.30 pm, followed by Puja, Aarti and Mahaprasad.
At around 9.30 pm, a two-act historical play ‘Shivangar’ produced by Rangsangati Kankon, written by Uday Naik and directed by Amol Prabhugaonkar will be staged.
On February 20 at 5 am, Shri Mallikarjun Dev will leave the temple in a silver palanquin (rath) for a bathe at Rajbagh Tarir Beach. The palanquin will be accompanied by a procession of Brahmin, Vangdi, Velip, Mahajan, Sevakari, Vajantri and devotees on the way, making halts at certain places for the veneration rituals by Suhasini.
Shree Mallikarjun Dev's sea bathing ritual will be performed on the beach in the presence of the entire congregation and devotees will bathe (take a dip) in the sea and take blessings from the Brahmins.
After completing all religious rituals, Shri Mallikarjun will return to the temple in a Palanquin and after that, worship will be done and prasad will be distributed to all those present.
On February 21 evening, there will be a Gaonpan where the programme of Avatara Purusha Deva of Canacona area will be decided.
The temple executive committee consisting of President Vithoba M Desai, Secretary Rajendra Bhagat, Treasurer Sachin Desai and Pramod Naik Gaonkar has invited all devotees and others to visit the temple to take the blessings of Shree Mallikarjun Dev on Mahashivratri festival.
