Annual Functions

Vanabhojana Utsava

Vanabhojana is one of the main Utsavas held at temple. It is held on the day of Karthika Vadya Panchami every year. Utsava moorti of Shri Lakshmivenkatesh and Hanumaan is decorated with flowers and Amla, is carried to the Vana, where Dhatri Havana is performed. Maha anna prasadm is served to all devotees who come in numbers.
The vana is now artificially created in the temple entrance. Decades ago, there used to be a Vanabhojana Katte, where the savari was taken for performing the Dhatri Havana. Vanabhojana utsava is conducted across two days.

The main attraction of Vanabhojana is Lords Palakki savari, taken to many Hindu Devotees home all over Molkod. Devotees decorate their homes with different themes every year. Chappara, Torana, Rangoli, Phalavali, and Flowers are the main attractions apart from the decorative lights. Prasanna Pooja is held at every home where savari heads towards and special naivedyam is offered to the Lord and then distributed among the devotees who are part of savari. Apart from the devotees homes, there are few Katte(s) where the savari goes and they are Rahu Katte, old Vanabhojana Katte, Kusta Pai Gunda, R S Pai Katte and Avala Katte.

Savari begins at around 4 PM, after completing the Sthali at all places around 11 PM Savari comes to the Kurinja, Which is right in front of LPS Molkod. Kurinj is Teru like structure, but has no real wheels for movement. Lord is then placed on to the Kurinj, Pooja is offered, crackers are burst in numbers and then Yakshagana Dashavatar Seva begins. Our Lord Mukhyaprana is said to be fond of Costal Folk Art Yakshagana. There are few devotees who offer Yakshagana seva as offering to Lord Hanumanta, for fulling their wishes. The monetary side of Yakshagana Seva during Vanabhojan is looked after by Bhaskar Bhat and Non-Archaka Acharya families of Molkod every year. Kurinj is constructed by the Volunteers every year before the Vanabhojana and then dismantled after the Utsava is over.

After the Yakshagana Dashavatar Seva, Savari heads back to temple and that ends the utsava for Day1. On the next day i.e Karthika Vadya Sashti, the utsava moorti is taken out in the pallakki savari, around the temple premises. Ashtavadhana, Mangalashtaka and Uyyala Seva is performed. Mahapooja is then performed after taking utsava moorti back to garbha gruha. Darshana Seva starts during Mahapooja and Abhaya prasad is given to devotees.

Another main attraction during this utsava is the attractive savaal(auction) conducted with the items that were part of phalavali at the Vana. This goes for 1 to 1.5 Hours based on the number of items. We could see YOY growth in the number of phalavali items and also devotees competing in the savaal. Each item is considered as prasad of Lord and devotion takes the centre stage than the money. Madhyanika Mahapooja is offered and Maha anna santarpane is held thereafter.

In the evening at around 7 PM Karthika Deeparadhane is held, Devotees gather and light the oil lamps across the temple premises. Bhajane seva and prasadam is distributed after the Ratri pooja. This marks the end of two days Vanabhojana utsava. Lot of people from surrounding villages and Molkodkars settled across India will not miss this utsava at any cost.

One thing to note here is, earlier days the savari used to go till Adkuri, other end of Molkod. Devotees used to carry the pallakki from the fields to Adkuri, but having to complying to few regulations, the savari after going till Kushta Pai Gunda, returns back. Those days, savari used to come to Kurinj for Yakshagana Dashavatar Seva at around 2- 3 AM. And the Dashavatar Seva used to go on till 6 in the morning.

The expenses of santarpane seva is mostly borne by the families of Molkod. Its called as Varade. Since the early days the Varade is donated in the form of money and coconuts. We have few instances of Sevadaars usually coming forward and take up the seva individually as well.

Mukkoti Dwadashi

Mukkoti Dwadashi utsava is held on the next day of Vaikuntha Ekadashi. There will be special pooja in the noon and anna santrapana is held among devotees. The Lalaki savari of utsava moorti begins at around 6 in the evening. The utsava savari of Lord goes all around Molkod. Devotees offer pooja when the savari by passed by their residence. The main attraction of this Mukkoti Dwadashi utsava is the Jaladeepotsava(Niraata). As savari heads towards Shiva Store Bunder as known earlier, Kamanna’s big boat (Dingi) which is decorated with Torana will be ready to sail with utsava savari on board. Devotees can also board this boat with Lalaki. The dingi sails in the calmness of river Sharavati. A boat (belonging to *) with few volunteers onboard will be sailing in front of the dingi making the Jaladeepa arrangements with Dondhi lighted and pierced in to Kele Gabbo (Banana plant pieces). These Dondhis sailing on water surface(do not cause water pollution) create the beautiful scenes for more than 1.5 – 2 KMs.
On the dingi, Sounds of Shankh are made, devotees sing bhajans, panchavadya mela plays melodious devotional songs. People being the part of dingi journey will definitely be soaked in the devotion and it will be a unforgettable journey for ever.

Lalki savari reaches the other end of Molkod which is Talamote via boat and then reaches the temple via road, receiving the pooja from the devotees of Talamotekeri. Around 11 PM on reaching the temple premises, Mangalashtaka, Ashtavadhana, Uyyala seva are offered and then once the utsava moorti is taken to the garba gruha, naivedyam and ratri pooja is offered to Lord.

Volunteers start preparing the Bamboo sticks for Dhondhis a month prior to this utsava. We require more than 500 of Dhondis for Jaladeepotsava. This is unique when compared to Niraata that happens in surroundings of Honnavar.
Lighting and floating the Dhondhis from the small boat also requires enough patience and skill.

The expenses of santarpane seva is mostly borne by the families of Molkod in the form of Varade. Individual donations from other devotees are also accepted.

Punar Pratishta Vardhanti Utsava

Annual Vardhanti Utsava is held on Magha Vadya Panchami. Shatakalash Abhisheka, Samoohika Sathyanarayan kalasha vrata, Gana homa and other religious events are conducted on the account of celebrating the punar pratishta of deities. Mahapooja and anna santarpana is held and since 25th year of punar pratishta, Shri Shrinivas Kalyanotsava event is also held. Pooja vidhan and importance of the Kalynotsava will be nicely explained by the Pradhan Archakas who perform this. Laddu prasadam is distributed after Kalynotsava and there is opportunity for women to do the Udi seva.

Procession of Shri Shrinivasa and Padmaavati is taken after Kalyanotsava around the temple premises on Lalaki. Palakki utsava of Shri Mukhyaprana Lakshmivenkatesh Dev starts after that. Mangalashtaka, Ashtavadhan and Uyyal seva is performed. Maha mangalarati and prasad distribution is held thereafter.

Acharya family of Molkod bears the expenses of Santarpane Seva during Vardhanti Utsava.

Hanuman Jayanti

On account of Chaitra Shuddha Poornima, Hanuman Jayanti celebration is held at Shree temple. Being the temple where Mukhyaprana is one of the main deity, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in the temple. Special alankar with flowers to the deity and utsava moorti, maha mangalarati and anna santarpane is conducted. In the evening there will be pallakki utsava in the temple premises, Mangalashtaka, Ashtavadhana and Uyyala seva will be offered to God. Ratri maha pooja is offered and prasadam will be distributed.

The Anna santarpane seva on the holy occasion of Hanuman Jayanti is performed by Shri Puttu Pai and family Sagar.

Anant Nopi

On Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi, Anant Nopi is celebrated in our temple. Since Sharavati river flows very close by, Kalash is filled after pooja to the river and brought to temple. Special flower alankar is made to the Nopi kalash. Mahapooja and anna santarpane is performed. On the next day Kalash Visarjane is done by the Archak. Since this event occurs during the period of Chaturmasa, there is no savari utsava during Anant Nopi.

Anna santarpane seva is performed by Shri Ramesh Kulkarni and family.

Apart from these main Utsavas, other festivals and events in Hindu calendar are also celebrated at Temple.

  1. Ganesh Chaturthi: Acharya Kutumbiya Ganapti is worshipped at the temple for five days starting from Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturti. Till today, Acharya families (Narahari Acharya and Venkatadas Acharya) have taken responsibility of Ganesh Chaturthi at temple. Since 2014, few years in between, festival celebrated for 2 days at the temple.
  2. Naga Panchami: After the pooja at Shree temple, villagers do the Naga pooja at their homes and then special Abhishek and Pooja is performed to the Naga idols situated in Naga Bana associated with the temple.
  3. Hasiru Pooje: This is festival of Village. Villagers from every community participate in this. First pooja happens at temple and then at Rahu Katte, Naga Katte, Jataka Kali, Kusta Pai Gunda. Donation
  4. Navaratri Pooja: All 14 Days of Navaratri starting from Ashwij Shudha Padya, till Ashwija Shudha Chaturdashi, special pooja is conducted to the Lord. The pooja responsibility for each day is distributed among each house of Molkod. People offer flowers for special alankar, and prepare special naivedya items to offer to lord during ratri Pooja. Bhajans, reciting Raama Raksha Stotra and Mangalashtaka is done during the evenings before the ratri Pooja.
  5. Hari Jaagar/ Paschim Jaagar Pooja. Starting from Ashwija Shudha Dashami, till Karthika Shudha Ekadashi, a special Aarti is performed in the early hours of the day. It is conducted so as to awake Shri Hari from Yoga Nidra.
  6. Utthana Dwadashi: This day is also known as the day when Lord Vishnu wakes up from the Yoga Nidra and it is meant to be end of Chaturmas Vrita. Tulasi lagna is performed on the same day during the evening. People of Molkod gather at Temple and the first pooja is offered at Tulasi belonging to Temple. It is a unique practice that people do visit all GSB homes during the Tulasi Pooja which is held in sequential manner.
  7. Holika Dahana: People bring coconut shells, dried wooden logs and collect it in an open field. Pooja is then offered by the temple priest to that collection and fire is lit marking the Holi Dahana which is held during Phalguna Poornima.
  8. Samprokshana: A ritual where all the idols of the deities is taken out and then cleaned with the help of jaggery and lime in order protect and preserve them. Then Abhisheka performed and idols will be placed back to their original positions and Samprokshana Yajna is conducted. This marks the start of Chaturmasa. Usually conducted before Ashad Shudha Ekadashi. Only Bhramana Santarpane is held during this event. Samprokshana is also held after Vanabhojana utsava.
  9. Sutta Punnav: Shravani home is performed in the temple premises and the Janivaras are then distributed among the Brahman devotees. This is held during Shravan Pornima
  10. Krishna Ashtami: During the holy occasion of Shravan Vadya Asthami Thousands of Tulasi Dala will be offered to Lord. Argya pradhana is performed and the on the next day special Venti Curry is offered to Krishna and the pooja is performed.
  11. Adhika Masa Pooja: During Adhika masa, which comes once in every three years, special pooja is offered to Lord and anna santarpane is held. The expenses of this event is taken by people of Molkod by collecting the Varade.