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Kateel's New Chariot Nears Completion for 2027 Festival
8 Oct
Summary
- A new Brahmaratha for Goddess Durgaparameshwari's 2027 procession is nearly finished.
- Mumbai donors funded the magnificent six-wheel chariot, standing 50ft tall.
- The chariot features intricate carvings of deities, animals, and Yakshagana scenes.
The annual festival at Kateel temple in April 2027 will feature a newly constructed Brahmaratha for Goddess Durgaparameshwari's procession. Work on the six-wheel chariot, a donation from a Mumbai-based family, is approximately 75% complete and is expected to stand about 50ft tall. Udupi-based sculptor Sudarshan Acharya and his team of 12 artisans have been engaged in its construction for the past 18 months.
The chariot's design includes a 12.5ft high and 12.5ft wide base, adorned with four tiers of detailed carvings. These carvings will depict various motifs, including lion faces, elephants, Hoysala-style creepers, cows with calves, and the Ashta Dikpalakas. Episodes such as Samudra Mathana and Sita Kalyana, alongside numerous forms of the Goddess, will be featured on the second tier.
Further embellishments include 56 small pillars, depictions of Yakshagana performances on the fourth tier, and the Gandabherunda at the top. The pedestal and doorways will showcase deity portraits and decorative elements. A separate five-wheel Chandramandala chariot is also being constructed by Acharya. The old Brahmaratha is over eight decades old, and both new chariots are anticipated for dedication in April 2027.
