CANACONA
A new silver idol of Shri Mallikarjuna Dev Adwait Simhanaadhiswara Mahapati is arriving on Sunday, and will be installed to replace the old idol at the temple at Punyabhumi, Shristhal-Canacona.
According to a press note by the Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan Committee, the idol of Shri Mallikarjuna is taken out in a palanquin every Monday and during other festivals.
Also, during Ratha Saptami, a procession is taken for five days and during Mahashivaratri, the idol is placed in a chariot.
The committee decided to make a new silver idol, and goldsmith Sadanand Vernekar and his skilled craftsman, Golgu Patil, originally a native of Canacona but currently based in Belgavi took God’s Prasad Kaul, and prepared a new beautiful festival idol.
All Mahajans are excited with the arrival of the new Utsava Murthy (Festival Idol).
The new idol will reach Char-Rasta on Sunday morning at about 11 am, where a large number of devotees will give a grand welcome, with traditional bands (Vajantri), Dindi, Lazim, Dholtashe and other groups will receive it.
The new idol will be taken in a procession to the temple in a vehicle decorated with flowers on the beat of teams, where people will line-up on both sides of the road and greet the idol of Shri with devotion as the procession moves forward with the sound of bells.
Suhasini will take aartya at places such as Nagarcem, Chaudi, Khalwade and Vada, where the procession will be stopped for some time and services will be accepted from the locals.
After the procession of Shree reaches the Shristhal, the idol will be ceremonially taken inside the temple and will be kept in a safe place. Mahaprasad will be provided for all devotees on the occasion.
Mahajan and devotees are requested to participate in this ceremony in large numbers and seek the blessings of Shri Mallikarjuna Dev Adwait, states a press note issued by Executive Committee consisting of President Vithoba Desai, Secretary Rajendra Bhagat, Treasurer Sachin Desai and others.
