April 2014, we had been to Mangalore for a religious trip. The scene from the train is worth to fall for. You would feel like stopping by at those spots forever.
We had first been to Vittal directly from Mangalore station for my cousin's Aashlesha Bali Pooja at Srimath Ananteshwara Temple.
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| Aashlesha Bali Pooja |
We met many of our relatives from Bangalore who had joined us at the pooja. We had also been to the Panchalingeshwara Temple next to the Srimath Ananteshwara Temple. I fell in love with the view of it's surrounding, it's architecture and the tall golden Deepastambha.
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| View behind the main temple located in the middle of the plot. |
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| Deepastambha |
All of us had a nice-jolly time at the small stalls. We had gadbad ice cream (Mangalore's special mixed fruit ice cream). We also had a great authentic South Indian dinner and lunch at the Priest's house who had performed the Pooja for my brother.The next day after the Pooja, we headed towards Mangalore at our distant aunt's place. She had arranged a vehicle for us and we headed to Udupi late morning the same day to visit the Udupi Shree Krishna Temple.
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| Udupi Shri Krishna Temple |
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| Ratha outside the temple |
Our religious tour had begun with Udupi Shri Krishna. He is one of my favorite Gods as He has been naughty, wise, used witty ways to get things done... in short He has been portraying an optimum blend of qualities which a person must have in oneself! I sometimes ask a waiver for my mischief reminding Him of His and claiming it to be Okay to do so ;)
We were lucky enough to not have much crowd around us and I got to see the Idol through the window twice. I stood in front of the window gazing Him, in my prayers for quite a time.
We shopped outside the temple and then headed towards Kapu Beach
Kapu Beach has a light house and I must say I want a house facing any of the Mangalore beaches. No wonder my mom keeps blabbering about her childhood days. Mangalore is a lovely place to dwell. Calm life, a little cooler but mostly similar to the Mumbai heat. Clean city with a wonderful atmosphere. As soon as I entered the beach I felt like putting up a tent and staying there forever.
I preserved them in my handkerchief first and later there were too many to hold them in it. So, I had to put the buttercup lucine types in the hanky, separate from other types kept in my duppatta knot.
The next destination of our religious tour the same day was Kukke Shree Subrahmanya Temple. It was too hot to walk barefoot from the footwear stalls to the main temple. I learnt a new prayer there and could also chant it 108 times. We then had a tea break(Coffee break for me) at a near by restaurant and then headed towards another beautiful Ganapti Temple. I cannot recollect the name! We enjoyed a beautiful sunset there and then moved to our next destination. While travelling, we spotted a long snake which had almost skipped itself from being under our vehicle. I could not see as I was sitting behind in the Innova. The driver said it had raised it head and then slid off immediately. Our driver asked a local couple who had witnessed this to make sure that the snake was unharmed. We then had reached to Dharmasthala Temple.
We had less time in hand as it was time for the temple to shut. But there again me and my brother got lucky to have the darshan twice, second time with the coconut prasadam! First batch with my mom and second with my cousin sister and sister-in-law. We were then dropped at Gurpur where we spent the night and had two more temple visits the next day. One being the Satyadevata Kallurthi-Ganapati Temple where we also had the prasadam breakfast and I again cannot recollect the second temple's name. We had goti-soda outside the second temple and then we headed towards Manjeshwar.
This is the temple where the stapana of our ancestral Snake God Idol was done before selling the Mangalore house. We clicked a lot of pics, attended the aarti, had the prasadam lunch and then got back to Mangalore- our Hotel.
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| The snake idols |
The next morning was to another picturesque- The Panambur Beach. We started the day to reach Tannirbhavi beach but we were unable to spot it and were running out of time. So, we changed the bus and got to another gorgeous beach- Panambur. We had a wonderful time there. I got to collect more number of shells there :) The most happy moment for me. My niece delightfully played in the water and was fully wet. They had carried a change for the little tot but what about me!!! That little one wanted a horse ride and I was also made to sit with her. But you know what, the cringe fairy doesn't hit on me :) I looked like I had peed my pants! But then I didn't mind enjoying the hot sun on a lonely spot to dry myself after having an amazing coffee with pav bhaji at a stall.
The last day was a visit to the renovated house where my mother grew up. The new owner was kind enough to explain the history of the house since the time he had owned it. It was completely different from what I had tried to visualize. We had a warm welcome at all the houses built there in our bungalow area. The evening was then spent at a Kalurthiganapathi Kolu function and the Mangalore trip ended with the local temple visits and the journey back home the next morning.
Mangalore has indeed made a special place in my heart. It has a unique tranquility in it's city life unlike the Buzzing Fast Mumbai life. Those 5 days were a lovely religious break for our souls and a scenic treat for our laptop screen addicted tired eyes.
Proud of my hometown :)
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