On September 1, 2026, a preparatory meeting for the upcoming Mangaluru Dasara was convened in the city under the chairmanship of Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader, who also oversees Dakshina Kannada district.
Khader urged officials to stage the festival on a grand scale, weaving together the region’s religious, cultural and tourism assets to create a vibrant Navratri atmosphere. He highlighted four flagship temples – Sri Gokarnanatha, Mangaladevi, Sharavu Mahaganapathi and Kateel Durgaparameshwari – as focal points to draw pilgrims and tourists from across Karnataka and beyond.
The minister instructed the Mangaluru City Corporation, relevant government departments and local administrative bodies to cooperate closely, and called on community groups and festival committees for support.
Cleanliness received top priority. Daily sanitation crews will patrol the city throughout the nine‑to‑ten‑day celebrations, while special teams will sweep streets and venues immediately after each night’s events so that mornings start spotless. Officials must also verify that streetlights on key routes function and that potholes on procession paths are repaired before the festivities begin.
Garbage‑collection trucks currently stationed near public spots such as Ocean Pearl will be relocated to a designated site for the festival’s duration, reducing inconvenience for visitors.
With roughly 200 temples expected to host worshippers, crowd sizes may range from a hundred to a thousand per shrine. Mass‑feeding programmes like Annasantarpane could attract up to 5,000 people daily. Khader ordered dedicated waste‑vehicle deployment and proper collection points near major temples, noting that discussions with the commissioner and deputy commissioner have already addressed waste clearance and prasada distribution.
To widen the festival’s reach, the Tourism Department and KSRTC have been asked to run extra buses from districts such as Shivamogga, Koppal, Davanagere, Chitradurga and nearby towns like Sullia and Puttur, with timings suited for families.
Decorative lighting worth Rs 2.2 crore will illuminate key arteries – Nanthoor, Lalbagh, PVS Junction, Navabharath Circle, Hampankatta and
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalore Today