Culture of Mangalore


Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. A resident of Mangalore is known as a Mangalorean in English, Kudladakulu in Tulu, Kodyalkar or Mangalorekar in Konkani Language and Manglurnavaru in Kannada, Maikaaltanga in Beary bashe.

Multiculturalism

Tuluva Culture

is a night-long dance and drama performance practised by Tuluvas with great fanfare. Piliyesa is a unique form of folk dance in the region fascinating the young and the old alike, which is performed during Marnemi and Krishna Janmashtami. Karadi Vesha is one more popular dance performed during Dasara in Mangalore.
Bhuta Kola or spirit worship, which is usually done at night is practised by Tuluvas. Kambala or buffalo race is conducted in water filled paddy fields. Korikatta is another favourite sport for the people. An ancient ritual associated with the ‘daivasthanams’ in rural areas, Hindu kozhi kettu, a religious and spiritual cockfight, is held at the temples and also allowed if organised as part of religious or cultural events. Nagaradhane or Snake worship is practised in the Tulu Nadu by Tuluvas according to the popular belief of the Naga Devatha to go underground and guard the species on the top.

Konkani Culture

There are about 22 ethnic Konkani communities live in Mangalore including Goud Saraswat Brahmin, Mangalorean Catholics, Daivadnyas, Kudmi, Kharvi, Gudigar, Navayats etc. The communities speak dialects of Konkani Language. Religious Festivals like Car Festivals of various Konkani Temples, Shigmo of Kudmi Community, Santhmarie of Catholics keep alive Konkani Cultural ethos.
The World Konkani Centre, built on a 3 Acre plot called Konkani Gaon at Shakti Nagar, Mangalore was inaugurated on 17 January 2009 "to serve as a nodal agency for the preservation and overall development of Konkani language, art and culture involving all the Konkani people the world over."

Infrastructure

The Bibliophile's Paradise, a hi-tech public library run by the Corporation Bank, is located at Mannagudda. The Mangala Stadium, which is the only full-fledged stadium in Dakshina Kannada, is located in Mangalore.

Practices

The Yakshagana is a night-long dance and drama performance practiced in Mangalore. The Pilivesha is a folk dance unique to this area, which is performed during Dasara and Krishna Janmashtami. Karadi Vesha is performed during Dasara in Mangalore.
Bhuta Kola or spirit worship, is practised here. Kambala or buffalo race is conducted in water filled paddy fields. Korikatta is another favourite sport for the people. To its supporters, cockfight, an ancient sport involving a fight between specially reared fowls held at the temples precincts in northern parts of Kasaragod, is not a blood sport but a feature of the rich cultural heritage of Tulunadu and an ancient ritual associated with the ‘daivasthanams’ here.
Nagaradhane or Snake worship is practised in the city according to the popular belief of the Naga Devatha to go underground and guard the species on the top.
Pad'danas which are ballad-like folk epics narrated in Tulu are sung by the community of impersonators together with the rhythmic beats. Some of the popular Beary songs are kolkai, unjal pat, moilanji pat and oppune pat. The Eucharistic Procession is an annual Catholic religious procession led on the first Sunday of the New Year of the Gregorian calendar.

Festivals

is considered as one of the biggest festival in Mangalore and stands second place after Mysore Dasara in state of Karnataka. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated every year by erecting statues, worshipping them and immersing them in water bodies. Kodial Theru or Mangaluru Rathotsava is one of the major festivals of the GSB community, which celebrates the car festival of the Sri Venkatramana Temple. Monti Fest is one of the major festivals of the Mangalorean Catholic community, celebrating the Nativity feast and the blessing of new crops. The Jain Milan, a committee of the Jain families of Mangalore, organise the Jain Food Festival annually with a view to bring together all the members of the Jain community. People of all faiths participate in the Mosaru Kudike, which is a part of the celebrations to mark the Krishna Janmashtami festival. Annual festivals are promoted during summer each year, to promote Karavali Utsav and Kudlostava which encourages the local cultural events. In 2006, the Tulu film festival was organized in Mangalore.

Cuisine

is largely influenced by South Indian cuisine. Mangalorean curry uses a lot of coconut and curry leaves. Ginger, garlic and chili is also used in curry. Mangalorean fish curry is known for its taste in the whole of Canara. Dishes of the Tulu community include Kori Rotti, Kori Gassi,Bangude Pulimunchi, Beeja-Manoli Upkari, Neer dosa, Chicken Ghee Roast, Chicken Sukka, Boothai Gasi, Kadabu, Masala Dosa and Patrode. The Konkani community has its specialities that include Daali thoy, beebe-upkari, val val, avnas ambe sasam, Kadgi chakko. The Sanna-Dukra Maas of the Mangalorean Catholics and the Mutton Biryani of the Mangalorean Muslims are well-known dishes. An assortment of pickles like happala, sandige and puli munchi are unique to Mangalore. Khali, a country liquor prepared from the coconut flower's sap is a well-known liquor of Mangalore. The vegetarian cuisine is same as Udupi cuisine. Since Mangalore is a coastal town, Fish forms the staple diet of most people.

Museums

Mangalore is the site of the Aloyseum and Srimanthi Bhai Memorial Government Museum. Aloyseum houses various souvenirs such as pieces of the Berlin Wall, Mangalore's first car, whale skeleton, coins and medals of ancient kingdoms, etc. Srimanthi Bhai Memorial Government Museum at Bejai contains coins of ancient dynasties namely the Hoysala, Vijayanagara, Chola, Adilshashis, Rome, Kadambas, Mughals, Shatavahanas, Guptas, Delhi Sultanate, British Raj, princely states of Travancore, Mysore, Baroda, etc.