Manja ritual is a part of
Siri festival. It is a custom of offering meat to Kumara and Kshemakallu Panjurli. This unique ritual is held in the Brahmalingeshwara Alade of Pangala, near Udupi and the Alade of Belapu Barpeni. The Manja ritual is officially held on the new moon day of the May month, 15 days prior to the Siri festival, and once again 15 days after the end of the Siri festival. It can be held on other occasions too in fulfilment of the vow taken by the devotees. During this ritual offerings are made by the Mukkaldi (priest) of the temple on behalf of the devotees. This ritual can also be held on some other days too, but that will be fixed by the Mukkaldi itself.
For the ritual the Mukkaldi takes a purificatory bath and donnes fresh clothes. Then he goes to Kumara Kotya (Cottage), where he makes a fire in order to cook rice to be offered to Kumara. Seven seers of rice are cooked and chicken curry of seven coconuts is prepared for the ritual. A cock and a hen are sacrificed after a lamp service in front of the seats of Kumara and Kshemakallu Panjurli. The heads of the sacrificed fowl are placed on a banana leaf by whose side a Kolthri or a stick wrapped in cloth and dipped in oil is kept burning. The other participants of the ritual prepare the meat. The speciality of the food is that the spices are not fried or no seasoning is done by the women of the Mukkaldi's family who prepare the food. They are not allowed to taste the food in the process of cooking. The curry of small fish called podiminu is also required for the ritual. The prepared food is offered by around 10 O'clock at night. The Mukkaldi puts panchakajjaya of beaten rice on two banana leaves placed before the seats of Kumara and Kshemakallu Panjurli on the ground. These offerings are called 'edes'. Another ede meant for Daaru is placed at a short distance. The Mukkaldi offers prayer and concludes with sprinkling of areca flower buds on the seats of deities.
People believe that Manja ritual is taken in the hope of winning the grace of Kumara, on occasions of critical problems like delay in the marriage of the daughter of the house, loss in business, infertility of women or prolonged litigation.
