Karkala

Karkala(Tulu/Kan

Black granite is abundant in the area, and is in wide use in the local architecture. The name of the town is derived from kari-kallu meaning black stone in Kannada. Tulus, Jains a

nada:karla, ಕಾರ್ಕಳ, Konkani- ಕಾರ್ಕಲ್) is a town and also the headquarters of Karkala Taluk in Udupi district of Karnataka, India, and is located about 300 km from Bangalore. It lies near the Western Ghats. The first name of this town was Pandya Nagari(ಪಾಂಡ್ಯ ನಗರಿ) during the Jain regime but afterwards it was changed to Karikallu(ಕರಿಕಲ್ಲು) because of black stones. Over time, the name changed to Karkal(ಕಾರ್ಕಲ್) and then to Karkala. Karkala has a number of natural and historical landmarks including the Ramasamudra Lake.

History and origin

Karkala dates back to the beginning of the 10th century.

Etymology

nd Kannadigas call the town Karla. Muslims and Konkanis call it Karkala and Christians call it Karkol. Its alternative name, Jain Thirtha, is the result of 300 years of Jain rule.

Ancient legends

The Alupas were the first to rule Karkala, followed by the Santaras who were the feudatories of Alupas for many years. Karkala or ancient Pandya Nagari attained political and cultural importance from the time of Kalasa-Karkala kingdom that was established by Bhairarasa Odeyas between 13th and 16th centuries. The Bhairarasas appear to be the descendants of the Santara chiefs who ruled the western ghats region around the 11th century A.D.

The royal family of Karkala shot to prominence right from the time of the Hoysalas. During the Vijayanagara period this family reached new heights of glory. Their kingdom extended over a wider area comprising Sringeri, Koppa, Balehonnur and Mudigere in Chikamagalur and most of the Karkala taluk. They were rich and maintained a large army. Despite engaging in wars, peace prevailed in the kingdom and this led to increased cultural activity and development.

The first important king was Veera Bhairava, who constructed basadis at Karkala and endowed land and money to numerous temples and basadis. Ramanatha and Veerapandya were his two sons. Ramanatha died during his father’s time. In his memory, a scenic lake called Ramasamudra was created, which still survives.

King Veera Pandya, at the insistence of his Guru Lalitakeerti, the pontiff of Karkala Jaina Math, installed a large statue of Bahubali on the rocky hill of Karkala. The date of the installation has been ascertained as February 13, 1432. This is the icon of the town. Veera Pandya also installed the Brahmadeva Pillar in front of the statue in 1436.

Abinava Pandya ascended the throne next and it was he who installed a carving of manastambha in front of the Neminatha Basadi in Hiriyangadi in 1457 A.D. Hiriyangadi is a small village in Karkala taluk. An intricately carved 54 foot high pillar stands in front of the Basadi. The Neminatha Basadi was renovated in 1946. An oriental school with free boarding and lodging facilities is being run here by the Bhujabali Brahmacharya Ashrama.

Abhinava Pandya’s successor was Pandya VI. He built the Kere Basadi, in the middle of a lake called Anekere in 1545 A.D. It is in this lake that the king’s elephants used to bathe. The Basadi and the lake still exist.

The next important king was Immadi Bhairava (Bhairava II). He constructed the Chaturmukha Basadi on top of a small rocky hill in 1586 A.D. The Basadi has four identical entrances from the four quarters leading to the Garbagriha and hence is popularly known as Chaturmukha Basadi. This is the most celebrated structural temple in Karkala[citation needed] and is referred to in inscriptions as Tribhuvana Tilaka Jina Chaityalaya and Ratnaraya Dhama. The Chaturmukha Basadi is built in the form of a square mandapa or hall with a lofty doorway and pillared portico on each of its four sides and a pillared verandah. The roof is flat and is made of massive granite slabs. It has lifesize statues of three theerthankaras and small images of 24 theerthankaras. It took 30 years to build this temple. In all, there are 108 pillars inside and outside the temple.

This beautiful place also came under the rule Sultan Fateh Ali Tippu (Urdu: سلطان فتح علی خان ٹیپو ) (born November 1750, Devanahalli – 4 May 1799, Srirangapattana), also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Indian Kingdom of Mysore from 1782 (the time of his father's death) until his own demise in 1799.In addition to his role as ruler, was a scholar, soldier, and poet. It was under him that some of the untold and disappearing landmarks of Karkal(ಕಾರ್ಕಲ್)was made, one of the most immanent of the time was Kotay kani (fort canal ) made in front of Karkal Kotay (castle) ,which was used during his war against the East India Company (also the East India Trading Company, English East India Company,[1] .In this war against EIC, few of Indian Kingdom of Mysore’s elite soldiers with huge contribution and service towards the land and kingdom where granted Title and Land in the township of Karkalla. One such title is Karkala Patayath (Tiger stripes of karkala/caretakers of karkala).Second such marvel of the same regime is to discover the usage of a Gavi (cave) route to travel to various surrounding location unseen through the mountains located near Shivati Keray(Lord Shivas lake).

There are 18 basadis of antiquity including Mahaveera Basadi, Chandranathaswamy Basadi, Adinathaswamy Basadi, Ananthanatha Basadi, Guru Basadi and Padmavathi Basadi. However, the rulers of Karkala were tolerant towards other religions and temples of other religions exist including the temples of Anantashayana and Venkataramana, Mahamaya Mukhyaprana and Adi Shakti. The St Lawrence Church was built in 1845 in a village called Attur where people of all religions congregate every year in January for the feast of St Lawrence.

Religion

Karkala is a town of historical importance and a pilgrim centre for Jains. The single stone 42-foot (13 m) statue Gomateshwara (Lord Bahubali) is located about 1 km from the center of the town and is the second tallest in Karnataka . There are about 18 Jain basadis here. The Bahubali statue is the second tallest in the State. This statue of Lord Bahubali was installed at Karkala on February 13, 1432 on the instructions of the pontiff of Karkala, Lalitakeerti. There are several other temples, mosques and churches in and around Karkala. Several jain temples were constructed namely Chaturmukha Thirthankara Basadi, Hiriyangaddi Neminatha Basadi and Anekere Padmavathi Basadi. All of these sites mentioned are listed in Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India.

The other statues of Bahubali in the state are at Shravanabelagola installed by Chamundaraya, which is 57 feet tall, at Venur installed by Timmaraja, which is 35 feet (11 m) tall, and at Dharmasthala installed by D. Veerendra Heggade, which is 39 feet (12 m) tall.

Fairs and festivals

Mahamasthakabhishekam

Every 12 years, hundreds of thousands of Jain devotees congregate to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a ceremony where the Gommateshwara statue is bathed and anointed with milk, water, and saffron paste and sprinkled with sandal wood powder, turmeric, and vermilion. The last Mahamastakabhisheka was held in February 2002, and the next will be in 2014. An annual Rathotsava is held in February.

Main festivals celebrated
At Saint Lawrence Church, Attur: St. Lawrence feast (last week of January)
At Padutirupathi Sri Venkataramana Temple, Carstreet: Lakshadeepotsava (festival of lights during November-December), Rathotsava or Chariot festival (April-May), Vishwaroopa Darshana (October-November)
At Sri Ananthapadmanaabh Temple, Ananthshayana Road: AnanthaChathurdashi (September), Deepotsava (November), Rathotsava (April)
At Sri HosaMaarigudi Temple, Bustand: Maari Puja (May third week)
At Sri Ucchhanggi Maariamma Temple, A S Road: Maari Utsava (last week of May)
At Sri MahaLingeshwara Temple, Pervaaje: Maha Shivarathri (February or March), Rathotsava (April)
At Sri UmaMaheshwara Temple, Shivathikere: Maha Shivarathri (February or March), Karthika Deepotsava (November)
At Sri Krishna Kshethra, Anekere: Krishna Janmaashtami (August)
At Sri Raghavendra Swamy Temple, Tellar: Guru Sree Raghavendra Swamy Aaradhana
At Jaamia Masjid, Salmaar: Jumma Masjid feast (ಉರೂಸ್ in Kannada during January)
At Sanoor Mosque: Sanoor Uroos

Other local festivities

In rural areas annual Jathra Mahotsava, Bootha Kola, Naga Darshana and Daiva Nemothsava are also celebrated. Festivals like Ram Navami, Buddha Poornima, Krishna Janmashtami, Raksha Bhandhan, Ganesh Chathurthi, Navarathri, Diwali, Christmas, Good Friday, Eid Milad, Moharam and Bakrid are celebrated throughout Karkala.

Landmarks

Karkala is a piligrimage location for Jains and it attracts tourists. Landmarks include Hindu temples, Jain basadis, mosques, churches and lakes.
Churches: Attur Church of St. Lawrence, Gandhi Maidhan Christ King Church
Mosques: Jumma Masjid at Salmaar
Lakes: Anekere Lake, Ramasamudra pond, Matadha Kere
Jain Basadis: Hiriyangadi Basadi, Chathurmukha Basadi, Padmavathi Kere Basadi
Vishnu Temples: Padutirupathi Sree Venkataramana Temple, Ananthashayana Sree Ananthapadmanabh Temple, Anekere Sree Krishna Kshethra, Tellar Sree DevakiKrishna Ravalnaath Temple, Ananthashayana Sree Vishveshwara Venugopal Temple, Kabettu Sree Venugopal Temple
Shiva Temples: Pervaje Sree MahaLingeshwara Temple, Shivathikere Sree UmaMaheshwara Temple, Sree Veerabhadra Temple,
Durga Temples: Sree AdiShakthi Veerbhadhra Temple, Sree HosaMaarigudi Maruthi Temple, Sree Ucchanggi Maariamma Temple, Sree Padmavathi Temple, Neklaaje Sree Kaalikamba Temple
Ganesh Temples: Vinayakbettu Sree Siddhivinayaka Temple, Banddimuta Sree MoodaGanapathi Temple
Guru Temples: Tellar Sree Raghavendra Swamy Temple
Hanuman Temples: Sree VeeraMaruthi Temple, Sree MukhyaPrana Temple

Padutirupathi Karkala - The Tirupati of the West attracting devotees
Sanctum Sanctorum(Garbha Griha),Padutirupathi Karkala

ಪಡುತಿರುಪತಿ ಶ್ರೀ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ ದೇವಾಲಯ, ಕಾರ್ಕಳ: This temple is built in a traditional style. Every year, a devotees pay a visit to Lord Venkatramana temple in Karkala. It is about 50 km from Mangalore and stands in the centre of the city. The Venkatramana temple of Karkala attracts visitors from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District. Popularly known as 'Padutirupathi'; West means Padu in Kannada and spelt as ಪಡುತಿರುಪತಿ, Lord Venkatramana temple is considered as the main piligrimage of Goud Saraswat Brahmins (GSB) of India, even though other community people visit this temple on a daily basis to seek a glimpse of the deities. Legend has it that a family of Gowda Saraswat Brahmins (namely Soire Prabhu and Soma Sharma) brought Lord Venkatramana's idols along with them while migrating from Goa. As they decided to settle down in Karkala, the family built a temple for the Lords and started worshipping them here during 1450 A.D. The exact installation date is still unknown. As and when the temple and its portico was being constructed; other families like Kudvas, Kamaths, Nayaks and others migrated here from Goa (due to tortures from Portuguese invaders) and settled down to help Soma Sharma and Prabhu family with their own agricultural business in developing the temple. The main and presiding deity over here is Lord Sreenivasa which was believed to be brought from Tirumala - Tirupati and daily deity Lord Lakshmi Venkatesha.
Lord Sreenivasa and Lord LakshmiVenkatesha

When a group of dacoits attacked this temple during 1500 A.D, the priests saved the main idols and other valuables by throwing them down a well in Mulki. As things cooled down, they could retrieve the belongings of the temple except for the main deity. However, a person in Mulki found the statue in the well, which was taken as an indication that the Lord wanted to stay there, instead of in Karkala. When Karkala people came to know about this they rushed to Mulki and asked for the idol; but by that time Mulki people had already installed the idol in Sree Veer Vittal Temlpe (around 1520 A.D). It is said that the Lord appeared in people's dreams and asked them to leave his statue with residents of Mulki. He seemed to have reassured them that a hermit would present them his statue in which he resides. The people of Karkala returned back and as told by the Lord himself, a hermit of Tirumala, who was a staunch devotee of Lord Venkatramana from Tirupati, came to Karkala and presented the Lord's statue with the condition that the proceeds of the temple be given to Tirupathi. Heeding to the condition, people of Karkala undertake a pilgrimage to Tirupati each year to present the temple's proceeds. The installation of new idol of Lord Sreenivasa was done on 25 April, 1537 and the renovation of the temple took place in the year 1700.
Vishwaroopa Darshana at Padutirupathi Karkala

Since the rites and rituals at the Karkala temple are similar to that of Tirupati, it is regarded as Tirupati in the West (while the original shrine is located in the east). So, it's called Padu (or West) Tirupathi. Karnataka Government and Indian Government has declared this temple as Tirupathi of Karnataka and is one of the many temples authorised to collect money for Tirumala Temple. Any kind of pooja performed by a devotee over here is taken as rendering a generous service (work as per his /her own wish) at the feet of the Lord but not as a seva (paid work). A ritual called Vanabhojan (yatra to Tirupathi) is conducted each year in November-December; when the presiding deity Lord Sreenivasa along with Lord Lakshmi Venkatesha is taken to Sri Bhuvanendra College area near Lake Ramasamudra and is kept facing Tirupathi. This is done as the deity can't be taken to Tirupati itself, to comply with the hermit's condition. The deities are bathed with Panchaamrutha (consisting of Milk, Curds, Ghee, Honey and Sugar) and Tender Coconut water (commonly known as Panchaamrutham Abhishekam). It is said that if people do this yatra it is as doing a yatra to Tirupathi. Presenting the offerings to Tirupati at Karkala itself had been an old custom. In the past, these proceeds were also given to Tirupati once in 12 years. Although this is no longer in practice, it is said that people still present their offerings to Tirupati here. Also an annual 6-days chariot festival is celebrated in honour of Tirupathi Lord Sreenivasa Swamy during April-May. The rites and rituals performed during this festival is also the same as in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD). The special days celebrated in this temple are Nag Panchami, Sri Krishna Janmaashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Anant Chaturdashi, Deepawali (Vishwaroopa Darshana-means lighting of 50,000 earthen lamps @ 3 A.M during October or November month), Ratha Saptami, Ram Navami and Buddha Poornima.Nag Panchami is celebrated with the pouring of Panchaamrutha abhisheka on the stone idol of snakes in the temple premises. During Janmashtami utsav deity is worshipped as Sri Gopalkrishna and served various items of food. On Ganesh Chathurthi huge silver idol of Lord Ganesha is kept in the temple for 5 days. For Anantha Chathurdashi golden kalasha is taken out to Ramasamdura lake where it is dipped in and holy water is brought back in it while returning to the temple. During Diwali 5 days celebration is being done with the main celebration as Vishwaroopa Darshan done after the 5th day. On Ratha Sapthami day utsav deity is taken out on silver chariot (where in Tirupathi Sreenivas Swamy is taken on SuryaPrabha Vahana). Ram Navami involves mass feeding and chariot utsav. Lastly Buddha Purnima in temple has utsav deity taken to Ramasamdura Lake in the morning, evening mass feeding for community people (last one in the year) and in the night half-chariot procession (Bandi utsav); where this utsav has its peculiarity as, a silver palanquin along with utsav deity is kept on Bandi with two wooden dolls holding it on their shoulders. This temple has over 150 Utsavas (Lord taken out to the town and returning back to temple) in a year excluding Amavasyas and Ekaadashis and over 70 mass feedings for the GSB community people. Special mass feedings for other community people are arranged during Shravana(August-September) month and Deepotsava festival. Everyday temple has bhajan recitals by Sri Venkataramana Bhajan group; where over 30 people including children sing recitals of Almighty in Hindi, Konkani, Kannada and Marathi. The temple arranged a 4 month long day-night Sri Raam Naam Sankirthan in the year 1958,1984 and recently in 2006 on July 6. Sahasra Kumbhaabhishekha (1008 Abhishekham) was held in this temple in the year 1963 March. Raam Dhandu (a trip to Tirumala Tirupathi to offer the offerings given by people) was held regularly in the range of 10 years 3 times, first one in the year 1854 until the year of 1970.
Sree Veera Maruthi,Karkala

In front of Lord Venkatramana's shrine lies Sri VeerMaruthi temple, whose statue towers over 15 feet and the temple was originally built in 1539. Its renovation was done in 1972. It's said that this statue was found under the grounds of Anekere (near Karkala), when it was dug. This statue of Lord Hanuman has a different type of architecture;left hand on his hip, right hand on top facing sky, legs in walking style, eyes starred in angry form and hair on his head waving in the air. Tippu Sultan was among the ardent devotees of this Hanuman; the silver ornament he had offered to the Lord is still seen around his neck. Once in a year in December month a 24hrs day long Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram recital is sung by localites of this area. Every Monday, Saturday and on Ekadashi day Ram Naam Sankirthans are sung by devotees for nearly 3 hours.

Several legends illustrate Lord Venkatramana's perceived power to grant wishes. One of them happened in 1912, when the British government at Madras decided to make Moodbidri instead of Karkala the taluk headquarters, which disappointed people here. They prayed to the deity. When a British officer was on his way to Karkala for re-inspection of the place, as he crossed Moodbidri, all of a sudden his horse collapsed and died on the spot. Somehow he managed to reach Karkala. On reaching there, he paid a visit to Lord Venkatramana's temple. After the visit, the British officer dropped the idea of making Moodbidri the taluk headquarters and decided on Karkala. Right outside the sanctum-sanctorum (garba-griha) of the temple, there are four massive stone pillars decorated with exquisite carvings carved out by Sri Shilpi Renjal Gopal Shenoy. The pillars have amazing carvings of birds, plants, insects and other different varieties of fine sculptures.

The temple has a large pond in front of it which is called as Sri Pushkarni (built in 1860) and next to this pond is a small temple of Sri Kalabhairava, a servant of Lord Almighty. Once a year during Kalabhairavaashtami, abhishekha is performed for the idol of Lord Kalabhairava.

Karkala Venkataramana Temple has three sects of priests from Vasishta Gotra namely Joishys, Puraniks and Tanthris having an origin from 14th century. Joishys and Puraniks are the primary priests who look after the betterment of deities & Temple and Tanthris are secondary priests who take up important services of temple. Presently Ramkrishna Joishy, Arun Puranik and Ramanath Tanthri are holding up the temple poojas yearly twice. Daily poojas are being done by their sons and grandsons (around 200 in total). The temple management has 14 member board committee;out of which 6 are permanent and the rest keep changing in accordance with election every 3 years. This committee administers the temples finances, management and events by holding monthly meetings in the temple premises. Each committee is headed by a president.

The Lord Venkatramana Temple Trust owns and manages 7 educational institutions, apart from conducting cultural and traditional activities. Also it has taken up mid-meal scheme for Mentally Disabled children in Chethana Special School. The temple owns a Goshaala (Cow Shed) of about 12 breeds near temple lake very next to Srinivasa Kala Mandir. Temple authorities also own Kala Mandirs for get together and functions.Heethaishee a small organisation which arranges marriage and ceremonies for Goud Saraswat Brahmin people. GSB Welfare Trust is yet another organisation which organises functions and gives grants for poor people in GSB community once a year during Ugadi (New Year according to Hindu Calendar). The temple has recently taken up many development works in and around the premises & in educational institutions.[1]

Attur Church

A shrine to St. Lawrence lies around 15 minutes outside Karkala at Attur in the vicinity of Parpale hills. The first church was established around 1759,[citation needed] about 7 kilometers from the present church. It was destroyed by Tippu Sultan and the Christians were held captive in Shrirangapatna from 1784-1799.[citation needed] A new church with a thatched roof was constructed in 1801 about 4 kilometers from the present location under the leadership of a Goan priest.

In 1839, the church was replaced by a third building. A Goan priest chose its location by carrying a 1 foot high statue of St. Lawrence to Attur. Devotees of St. Lawrence believe that the saint guided the priest by fixing the statue to the ground and subsequently releasing it at the location of the church.[citation needed] The statue has become an object of devotion and the church attracts pilgrims. The building was located at the rear of the present church and was facing west. A small flower garden now stands at its location.

The present, north-facing church was built in 1900 to accommodate the growing congregation. It was blessed and inaugurated on 22 January 1901. A small shrine was built adjacent to the sacristy in 1975 to accommodate the statue. A hundred foot high tower representing religious art of various regions was built in 1997, to symbolize acceptance of other faiths. In 1998 the Pushkarini (Miracle Pond) was renovated in modern Indian Architectural style with facilities for pilgrims to descend into the pond. Twin gates were added in front of the church in 1999 in line with the Tower. In 2000, a new church was erected in front of the 1900 church to accommodate the Annual Feast. It was inaugurated and blessed on 21 January 2001. The 1900 church remains in use.

Chathurmukha Basadi

Chaturmukha Basadi is a Jain temple, situated on a rocky hill at Karkala in Udupi District of Karnataka. Consecrated by Vir Pandya deva, the king of Bairarava family in 1432, the basadi was completed in 1586. It is built in the form of a square mandapa or hall, with a lofty doorway and pillared portico on each of its four sides. Since four identical doorways in four directions lead to the Garbhagriha, it is called Chaturmukha Basadi. The roof is flat and is made of huge granite slabs. In the Garbhagriha, one can see the standing statues of Ara, Malli, and Suyrata. Besides these, the images of the 24th Tirthankar and Yakshi Padmavati can also be found. There are a total of 108 pillars inside and outside the temple. This is the most celebrated temple in Karkala[citation needed] and is referred to in the inscriptions as Tribhuvana Tilaka Jina Chaityalaya and Ratnaraya Dhama.

Ananthashayana Temple
Lord Ananthashayana

This was previously a Jain Basadi proposed by one of the Jain king during the year 1567. Once during this time, Sringeri Jagadguru Sri Narasimha Bharathi Swamiji came to Karkala and the Jain King gave him a warm welcome to his Basadi. But Swamiji said "We will stay only if there is a temple with a Lord Almighty in it". So the king gave his Basadi to Sringeri Swamiji with installing a stone sculptured Idol of Lord Vishnu in the sleeping form. This Lord Vishnu was found in a lake near Nellikar village. The large idol is sculpted out of a single black stone with Lord Brahma on the lotus (coming out of Lord Vishnu's navel), and his wives Sridevi and Bhudevi at his feet. There are sculptures in every corner of this temple. Also this is a protected site under Archaeological Survey of India.

Geography

Karkal is located at 13.2°N 74.98°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 81 metres (265 feet).Fully surrounded by black rocks and lush green forests. This tehsil is also located in Western Ghats with other places. The dark green area on the western side of India indicates the whole stretch of Western Ghats from Kerala to Maharashtra along the west coastline.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[3] Karkal town had a population of 25,118. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Karkal has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 79%. In Karkal, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. According to recent statistics by town municipality, now currently 25,635 people reside in this town, while as per the recent statistics Karkala taluk has a population of 2.10 Lacs (previous 2001 census is 2,04,571).

Culture

The undivided Dakshina Kannada District has a diverse variety of cultures.

Language and people

 

Karkala is a multi-cultural and multi-lingual city that follows four religions namely Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Jainism. Local people normally speak four local languages Tulu, Kannada, Beary and Konkani. Hindi, Urdu and English are also well understood. There are communities of Tuluvas (Bunts, Mogaveeras, Billavas, Dalits etc), Konkanis (Gaud Saraswat Brahmins, Saraswats,Daivajnas Roman Catholics) , Kannadigas (Brahmins),Vishwakarma Bhrahmins, Jains, Brahmins, Marathi speaking Maharashtrians (chitpavans)and Aryas(very small in number) Christians and Urdu & Beary speaking Muslims.

Tradition

Hulivesha (Tiger dance) is a unique form of folk dance in Dakshina Kannada. It is considered as the favored carrier of Goddess Sharada (the deity in whose honor Dussera is celebrated), and is performed during the Dussera celebration. It is also performed during other festivals like Krishna Janmasthami. Bhuta Kola or spirit worship is practised, usually at night. Kambala or buffalo racing is also conducted in paddy fields. Korikatta (Cockfighting) is another favourite sport for village people. Nagaradhane or snake worship is also practised according to the popular belief that the Naga Devatha go underground and guard the species above. Konkani speaking GSBs have their own tradition of celebrating Rathotsava and Deepotsava like the Kannada speaking Brahmins.

The Christians in Karkala celebrate a special feast called Saanth Maari also known as Attur Church festival for 3 days. Thousands of people from all over India attend.

The Muslims celebrate Uroos in the Masjids and Jains have their Jain Milans yearly.