Festivals

This is the night-long festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, observed with fasting, special pujas, recitations and temple visits in and around Mangalore.

Celebrated across India including Mangalore, this festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha and involves erecting idols in homes/communities, daily prayers, and immersion (Visarjan) at the end.

This festival marks the birth of Lord Krishna and in Mangalore it is especially lively with the “Mosaru Kudike” (pot-breaking event), Huli Vesha (tiger-costume folk dance) and special temple rituals.

This is a major 10-day festival celebrated around the city during the Navaratri period, particularly at Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple. It features vibrant processions, folk dances like the Tiger Dance (“Pili Vesha”), and city-wide decorations and lights.

The Migrant Commission of the Diocese of Mangalore, along with other groups, organised the Karam Festival at the campus of St. Aloysius College on September 28, 2025. Around 300 migrant Catholics from tribal backgrounds took part. The event included Eucharistic Adoration, cultural performances, and a message of gratitude for nature and community life.

In Mangaluru, on September 8th, Christian communities observed Monti Fest — also known as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Harvest Festival. Families offered the first sheaves of the harvest, participated in early-morning Masses, and distributed blessed corn and payasam (a traditional sweet dish) as part of the ritual.