The morning puja altar features silver pictorial representations of deities set against a vibrant backdrop of goddesses ready for floral offerings
The central wooden sanctum, housing a carved representations of deities beneath a decorative canopy, is installed in the hall during the ceremonial Pratishtha The central wooden sanctum, housing a carved representations of deities beneath a decorative canopy, is installed in the hall during the ceremonial Pratishtha Mangaluru: For more than 90 years, the Sri Gujarati Mahajan Association has preserved the religious and cultural traditions of Gujarat through its Navratri celebrations in Mangaluru, keeping the focus firmly on devotion, ritual and community participation. Founded in 1935, this registered association began this year’s celebrations on Sunday, with traditional prayers and the ceremonial establishment of the sacred sanctum. The ceremony, known as Pratishtha, involves community members collectively lifting and installing the sanctum at the centre of the hall. A husband-and-wife couple (one couple chosen each year) performs the initial aarti and puja, after which members proceed in an orderly procession around the sanctum, offering prayers. The evening features traditional Garba and Dandiya performed by men, women and children in coordinated formations around the sanctum. participation in the ritual dances is restricted to association members Although the event is open to the public to witness. The music consists exclusively of devotional songs, bhajans and kirtans dedicated to the goddesses, without Bollywood numbers or DJ remixes. Non-community members and outsiders can witness the event and the festivities, but participating in the Dandiya and Garba specifically restricted to only the community members. Festival chairman Naveen Patel and past association president Chetan Sureja are among the key members involved in the committee. Through its emphasis on devotional music, traditional rituals and respectful participation, the community’s annual celebration remains a living expression of its cultural heritage in Mangaluru.