Durgamba Rathotsava
The annual Durgamba Rathotsava took place at Sringeri on March 16, 2016 at the temple of Goddess Vanadurga. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahasannidhanam and Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Sannidhanam led the Rathotsava. Earlier Sri Mahasannidhanam arrived at the temple of Goddess Durgamba at around 11AM. After completing His afternoon Anushthanam, the Jagadguru began the Puja by around 12PM.
Meanwhile, Sri Sannidhanam reached the Sri Chaturmurti Vidyeshwara temple crossing the river Tunga by boat. There, Sri Sannidhanam was given a traditional welcome by Bovi Samaja, a community whose members traditionally serve the Sringeri Math during special occasions and carry the palanquins of the Sringeri Jagadgurus. Sri Sannidhanam had Darshan at the temple, and proceeded towards Sri Durgamba temple by walking through paddy fields. On the way, many devotees did Phala and Pushpa Samarpanam and became recipient of the blessings of Sannidhanam.
Last year, on the same occasion (February 27, 2015), Sri Sannidhanam had laid the foundation stone for the Kalyana Mandapam just adjacent to the Durgamba temple. Earlier, on March 11 2016, the Kalyana Mandapam and a Guru Nivas had been inaugurated by the Ubhaya Jagadgurus. So on arrival at the temple, Sri Sannidhanam first had Darshan of Lord Chandramoulishwara, whose worship was being performed by the Archaka inside the Mandapam.
Shortly thereafter, Sri Mahasannidhanam performed an elaborate Puja to Goddess Durgamba amidst chanting of Vedic Mantras by the Pandits of the Sringeri Math. During the Arati time, Sri Sannidhanam also had Darshan and then both Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam circumambulated the temple. The Ratha was moved a few steps symbolically and stopped. Annadanam took place for all the assembled devotees. In the evening Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam led the Rathotsava amidst chants of the Vedas and singing of Bhajans. The event was witnessed by many devotees who had gathered at the temple for the function. The event concluded at around 5:30 pm and the Jagadgurus departed from the temple.