100 crore vermilion to be offered to Goddess Kali

Sirsi, Karnataka, Jan 16 (UNI) A three-day 'Shatakoti Kumkumarchane' (offering 100 crore vermilion to Goddess Kali) and installation of the idol of Goddess Shree Bhavataarini will be held at Sri Ramakrishna Kalikamath in Ambagiri here from January 19.

Briefing reporters about the programme here today, Organising Committee President V M Hegde said about 1.5 lakh devotees from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu were expected to take part in the programme, organised by the Ramachandrapura Mutt, Hosanagar, at an estimated cost of Rs 55 lakhs. As many as 99 crore Kumkumaarchane had been completed in Gokarna Mandala by the mutt and the remaining one crore would be offered now, he added.

He said the defaced stone idol of Goddess Kali in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple would be replaced by a newly carved stone sculpture of Goddess Bhavataarini.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, various Ministers, Hindustani maestro Dr Gangubai Hangal and a multitude of seers would participate in the function on January 21, he said.

UNI