Putturu Jatre

Puttur is a place located 52kms away from Mangalore. The main deity of the town is Lord Shree Mahalingeshwara( Shiva). He is the superpower and all your wishes are answered without fail. It's the time of his car festival here. The pomp and beauty of the Puttur Jatre ( Car festival) or Brahma Rathostava is incomparable.. It's such a huge celebration time for all Putturigas to join their families and to visit the Jatre, which will be on the front side of the temple on a very huge field.( Jatre Gadde) The car festival of Lord Shree Mahalingeshwara will be always on 17th April every year. From the very childhood, I never miss this grand Jatre.The joy of pleading money from mom, dad, sisters and relatives to spend it personally on the day and the memory of coin box collection still deep inside my heart. Sometimes even the overspent neighbours to bring happiness and smile on our face also duely remembered on every Jatre. Due respects to all... History reveals us that the temple was constructed in 12th century A.D. The old legend story depicts that a set of Smartha cult Brahmins carried the Shiva Linga along with them on the way from Kashi. They visited the ruling dynasty of the period the Bhangas to get some flowers to worship this Linga. Without much notice the Brahmins kept this Linga on the ground. When they tried to remove it couldn't be lifted from the ground. When the efforts went in vein, the elephant was called to forcibly remove the linga from the ground. During that time, the linga got it's real power and started to grow and it threw away the elephant. The body parts of the elephant is shattered and it fell at many places .Till today the local places of Puttur is called in different names like Kombettu, Kariyala, Karijala, Beedimajalu,etc synonymous to elephant and it's body. The highest respect is given to ladies. There is a neighborhood goddess amma Shre Devi Ullalti , she is welcomed on every 16th April to this car festival. She carried in pallaki with Danda Nayakas. Light fire 🔥 in the primitive style with bunch of coconut feathers, stalks, burlaps could be seen in peoples' hand the long way till the temple at night. One of her favourite is Jasmine flower. It's the famous Mangaluru Mallige. It will be seen almost full around the town on this particular day. It is specially offered to her on the day. It's believed that all the wishes and prayers are answered by her and as a thanks giving or harike all the families offer Jasmine to Ullalti Amma. The refreshing scented flowers 🌺🌻🌹🌷 soothes everyone's mind and there is no doubt wishes get answered. In the morning there will be Darshana Bhali, Katte pooje, Ustava and all and at night the actual feast begins. With all shopkeepers keep open their petty shops with wide variety of shopping items. It's such an enjoyment for few to do window shopping, and children to make masti on those roller coasters and other play games. Food hunters love to eat Churumuri, Gobi, Iceceams, Sugarcane juice, Sweetcorns, Bombay Metayee and still to be mentioned eatories from the joints. The major attraction of the night will be the crackers show, famously known as 'Puttur Bedi'. It's the cracker show with wide variety of crackers in light and sound. The sparkle and the light and the thundering and bombarding sound clash will definitely get goosebumps on us. It's such a heavenly night to witness it.This will be followed by pulling of the chariot through the car street. The newely wedded couples it's must to visit Jatre Gadde( field) .They will be followed by full family gang in roaming. The far relatives, friends everyone get together to see Jatre. Always I wonder to see the crowd of the jatre from nowhere it gathers! It's a communal harmony time, no bound of religion. That's why I said jatre is meant for the entire "Putturigas", to unite anywhere in the world. All these excitements are missed this year due to social distancing.Let Shree Lord Mahalingeshwara bless us from this corona crisis 🙏🙏🙏 ✍V Bekal