As evening settled over Kudroli on November 7, the Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple grounds became a field of small, glowing worlds.
There were gududeepas shaped like temples, houses, boats and familiar coastal landmarks. Some followed traditional forms. Others leaned into modern designs. A third group tested imitation and creative interpretation. Together, they turned the temple courtyard into a bright, crowded celebration of a Diwali tradition that many Mangalurean families know well.
The 26th Namma Kudla Gududeepa Competition, organised by Namma Kudla Vaahini, drew hundreds of contestants from different parts of the undivided Dakshina Kannada district. The event was held at the Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple in Kudroli as part of the channel’s Diwali celebrations.
A Tradition That Keeps Growing
The competition has now completed 26 years. What began as a modest community event has become one of Mangaluru’s most recognisable Diwali-season fixtures, bringing together children, families, artists and neighbourhood groups around a shared craft.prajavani
Contestants prepared their gududeepas at home and brought them to the venue for display. As dusk fell, electric lights illuminated the handmade lanterns, creating a striking contrast between traditional craft and contemporary celebration.
The event was open to participants across age groups. Organisers divided entries into three categories: traditional, modern and imitation.
26th Namma Kudla Gududeepa Competition at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 26th Namma Kudla Gududeepa Competition |
| Organiser | Namma Kudla Vaahini |
| Date | November 7, 2026 |
| Venue | Sri Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, Kudroli, Mangaluru |
| Occasion | Diwali celebrations |
| Participants | Hundreds of contestants from the undivided Dakshina Kannada district |
| Categories | Traditional, modern and imitation |
| Prize distribution | November 14, 2026, at 5 pm, at the Namma Kudla Vaahini office |
Prizes and Recognition
The competition offered six gold medals across the three categories, along with three silver medals. Organisers also announced 50 encouragement and special encouragement prizes, ensuring that recognition was not limited to the top few entries.
Prize Structure
| Category | First and second place | Third place | Other recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Gold medals | Silver medal | Encouragement prizes |
| Modern | Gold medals | Silver medal | Encouragement prizes |
| Imitation | Gold medals | Silver medal | Encouragement prizes |
| Overall | Six gold medals | Three silver medals | 50 encouragement and special encouragement prizes |
The prize distribution ceremony is scheduled for November 14, 2026, at 5 pm, at the Namma Kudla Vaahini office.
More Than a Lantern Contest
The event also carried a broader community purpose. Alongside the gududeepa display, Namma Kudla Vaahini honoured achievers from different fields and presented its annual awards.
The 2026 Namma Kudla Award was announced for Tulu theatre, film and cinema personality Vijayakumar Kodialbail. Entrepreneur Shashidhar Shetty Baroda received the Namma Tuluver Award. The Namma Kudla Seva Award went to the Maruti Janaseva Trust and Maruti Youth Association of Mogaveerapatna, Ullal, while Chandrakant Bhat and Annapurna were named for the Ideal Couple Award.
Awards Announced Alongside the Competition
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Namma Kudla Award | Vijayakumar Kodialbail |
| Namma Tuluver Award | Shashidhar Shetty Baroda |
| Namma Kudla Seva Award | Maruti Janaseva Trust and Maruti Youth Association, Mogaveerapatna, Ullal |
| Ideal Couple Award | Chandrakant Bhat and Annapurna |
The ceremony also included a tribute to Dr. M. N. Rajendra Kumar, president of the Dakshina Kannada Central Cooperative Bank, who was honoured during the competition’s inauguration.
A Community Evening in Kudroli
Former minister B. Janardhana Poojary, described in event coverage as a guiding figure for the competition, lit the inaugural lamp along with his wife, Malathi J. Poojary. Former minister Krishna J. Palemar then launched the competition by hoisting a gududeepa. The programme included bhajans by the Bhajanamruta Ananda Bhairavi Bhajana team of Padubidri Banta Sangha and a devotional music performance by singer Jagadish Puttur’s team.
For many participants, the competition is less about winning a medal and more about keeping a family ritual alive. A gududeepa is not merely a decoration; it is a handmade object that carries hours of cutting, folding, pasting and waiting before it is finally lit.
The 26th edition showed how a simple Diwali lantern can still bring an entire district together
What Happens Next
With the display complete, attention now shifts to the November 14 prize ceremony. Winners across the traditional, modern and imitation categories will receive their medals and prizes, while the encouragement awards will recognise the wider pool of participants.
For Mangaluru, the event remains a reminder that festivals are sustained not only by rituals, but by the people who continue to make them, display them and pass them on.
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