Marikamba Jatre to be held from Feb 17 in Thirthahalli; grand celebrations planned

Thirthahalli: The biennial Marikamba Jatre will be held in Thirthahalli from February 17, with a series of special pujas, cultural programmes and community meals planned throughout the festival period.

Temple administration committee president Nagaraj Shetty said the celebrations will begin on February 17, with daily special worship and anna santarpane (community meal) at the Marikamba temple.

As part of the festivities, the idol will be ceremonially installed on February 24 and immersed on February 25.

Festival schedule

Feb 18: Parayana, special puja, maha mangalarati, anna santarpane; evening rangapuja and Nrutya Sangama by Sumukha Music and Dance School and Rajarajeshwari Dance School.
Feb 19: Parayana, special puja, maha mangalarati, anna santarpane; evening rangapuja and Yakshagana Sampoorna Devi Mahatme by Pavanje Yakshagana Mela led by Patla Satish Shetty.
Feb 20: Parayana, special puja, maha mangalarati, anna santarpane; evening rangapuja and Kavya–Sangeeta–Kalakuncha programme.
Feb 21: Chandikahoma; poornahuti at 12.30 pm, maha mangalarati and anna santarpane; evening cultural programmes by local artistes, dance performances by Dance Palace and music.
Feb 22: Parayana, special puja, maha mangalarati, anna santarpane; evening folk music programme by singer Rajaguru Hoskote (Bengaluru) and team.

Feb 23: Kalpokta puja, sahasranama special puja, maha mangalarati, anna santarpane; evening Sangeeta Gaana Sambhrama by Puttur Jagadeesh Acharya and team.

Feb 24: Jatre special pujas, maha mangalarati and anna santarpane; at 8 pm, enne bhandara puja. The idol carved by members of the Nadthi Achar family will be taken in procession and installed in the temple premises.

Feb 25: Idol puja at 5 am; from 3 pm, Rajabeedi Utsava with traditional music and costumes, followed by idol immersion in the Tunga river. Dinner prasada will be distributed at 7.30 pm at the Marikamba Sabha Bhavana in Nadthi.