This year, the Mangaluru Dasara which will commence on October 17, 2020 at Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatheshwara temple will be inaugurated by Dr. Arathi Krishna who is a Covid warrior and vice President of NRI Forum. The slogan for 2020 Mangaluru Dasara celebrations is ‘Namma Dasara – Namma Surakshe‘, explained Janardhana Poojary, who is one of the important members of the Kudroli Temple, Mangaluru Dusara. This year, Mangaluru Dasara had to change its usual plans owing to the pandemic. And it is doctors, nurses , health workers, government officials and many others whose tireless services that keeps one’s hopes of things going back to normal. And thus, inviting Dr. Krishna to inaugurate the festival is an ode to the services rendered by every Covid warrior.
At 9:30 am, the Dasara rituals will begin with the Guru Prarthana followed by Kalasha Prathiste at 11.30 am. The inauguration festivities will be at 12:00 pm and Navadurga and Sharada Prathiste and Pushpalankara Mahapooja at 12.30 pm. Bhajans will be sung from 7:00 pm after which Devi Pushpalankara pooja will be conducted.
Dr. Arathi Krishna was integral in responding to the pleas of Indians who are stationed abroad during the pandemic. In the past six months, her efforts helped more than 40,000 NRIs reach back safely to their motherland. Her strife to get required permissions from the embassy helped NRI companies charter flights for them.
Her constant conversation with Ambassadors of various countries helped gain the trust of people. The NRIs who came back home were those from China, Italy, Australia, America, Philippines, Spain, Finland, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Poland, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, England and the Gulf countries. For her selfless service and contributions to Indians within and outside India, she has been nicknamed ‘Malnaada Indira’ (Indira of Malnad).
She has received awards such as the prestigious Rajyotsava award, Honorary doctorate from Kuvempu University, Honorary award of Sahyadri Sangha, Mahatma Gandhi Samman award in Bangkok, Dubai Kannada Kayaka Ratna and Indian Community award from the Governor of Maryland State of USA.
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