DHARMASTHALA: The stage is set for the Lakshadeepotsava at Dharmasthala, which starts from Tuesday.
The town will see a string of cultural, religious and social programmes as part of the seven-day utsav.
Around 10 lakh people from all over Karnataka and neighbouring states are expected to take part in the event.
Known for its melange of faiths, Dharmasthala is a Shiva Kshetra where the archaks are Vaishanavas and the Dharmadhikari is a Jain. The presiding deity at Dharmasthala is Manjunatha (Shiva).
The Dharmasthala temple trust has been organising ‘Sarva Dharma Sammelana’ during the week-long Lakshadeepotsava every year. The temple will hold various ‘Katte Poojas’.
As part of this, Utsav Murthies (idols) of the temple are taken out in a procession to various ‘Kattes’ like Kere Katte, Hosakatte, Gowrimaru Katte and Kanchimaru Katte.
People of neighbouring villages and towns offer poojas to the idols and as the ritual takes place late in the night, the entire temple town goes to sleep only after it is completed.
Sarva Dharma Sammelana
“The Sarva Dharma Sammelana (All faiths conference) was started in 1933 by the then Dharmadhikari Manjayya Heggade, who was known for his philanthropy. It was perhaps the first all-religion meet to be organised in any temple in the state,” said Bhojayya Shetty, an elder of Dharmasthala town.
This time also leaders from Hindu, Islam, Christian and Jain religions will take part in the Sammelana, Shetty added.
