Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: “Mahashivratri Utsav” will be celebrated with great enthusiasm on February 18, 2023, at Shri Mallikarjuna Temple in Canacona at Shristhal, known to be sanctified by the holy abode of Kanva Rishis.
Dev Shree Mallikarjuna is the adored deity of Canacona taluka, and virtually, a huge crowd of devotees visits the deity on the occasion of Mahashivratri because of the presence of Swayambhu Shivlinga at the Shristhal Temple.
The Mahajans and Kulavis of Shree Mallikarjun Dev live in the entire Gomantak and Uttara Kannada region of Karnataka and come to Sristhal, not missing any occasion to serve the Lord with great devotion. On the occasion of the Mahashivratri festival, local Mahajans, as well as Kulavis and devotees from many parts of Karnataka, come to Shristhal temple to pay their obeisance and offer their services to God.
On Saturday, the Shrins Abhishekam will start at 8.00 am in the temple as devotees seated in groups will be anointed collectively by Brahmins. The Mahaabhishek will be held at 1.00 pm, followed by Mahapuja, Aarti and Mahaprasad state press notes by the Devalaya committee.
In the evening, between 7.00 and 8.00 pm, the twelve-year-old disciple of the famous kirtan artist Suhas Vajhe Bua, Pawan Abhay Pai Khot, will perform Kirtan. After that, at 8.30 pm, a procession will be taken out on Shri Ambari Rath. Later there will be 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 Monday, February 20, at 5.00 am, Shri Mallikarjun Dev will leave the temple in a silver palanquin (rath) for a sea bath 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 the religious rituals, Shri Mallikarjun will return to the temple in a Palanquin, and after that, worship is done, and Prasad will be distributed to all those present.
On Tuesday, February 21, evening, there will be a Gaonpan where the program of Avatara Purusha Deva of the 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 urged all devotees and others to visit the temple to take the blessings of Shree Mallikarjun Dev on Mahashivratri festival.
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