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KRISHNASHTAMI
Sri Krishna Jayanti ( known as "ashtami" in Mangalore)  marks the celebration of the birth of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.The actual day of celebration can be on two different days as the star 'Rohini' and Ashtami may not be on the same day.  This occurs between August and September on the Christian calendar. Celebrations are held on a grand scale in all Krishna temples, especially in Udupi. Sri Krishna Jayanti is celebrated with pomp and plendor all over Mangalore. Plenty of sweets are made on this day. Among them Ashtami Oonde ( ladoo) and Chakuli is very famous, the ladoos are usually made from Seasame seeds (til)  known as "yellu oonde" in local language. In addition, plenty of butter, which was Sri Krishna's favourite  are given as  offerings in many temples, along with fruits and flowers.

RAMANAVAMI
Ramnavami  is the birthday of Lord Rama  which falls on the 9th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra (March-April). Rama known as  Lord Hari himself,came on  this earth for the destruction of Ravana.  Ramanavi is celebrated by every Hindu in Mangalore, usually the day begins by visiting the temple. Sweets, Flowers and fruits are offered to the god at home as well as in the temple. Bhajans and kheertans takes place in the Sri Rama temples in the evening.

GANESH CHATURTHI
Ganesh Chaturthi marks the celebration of the birth of Lord Ganapathi. This is a very important festival for most of the Mangaloreans. On this day special pooja takes place at home as well as in  the temples. People make sweets at home and visit the temples in the evening. Many  voluntary organisations, shops,  and houses install  idol of Lord Ganapathi. The size of the idol varies from person to person and place to place it starts from mear 10 cms to 25 feet. These idols are kept for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days. The idol has to be immersed in water on the last day. At homes people immerse the idol in the well, huge idols are taken on a procession on the streets and then immersed into the River or Temple ponds.

DEEPAVALI
Deepavali is yet another imporatant festival. It falls usually in the month of October. It is a 3 day long  festival. The first day  is called "Narakachaturdashi". The previous day of Narakachaturdashi  wherein in  the evening water is filled in the bathroom "Hande"( huge copper pot), flowers are tied and rangoli of  sun and moon are  drawn on the pot. The next day starts with getting up early in the morning to take oil bath. People wear new clothes and burst crackers on this day. Little  earthen lamps are lit in and around the house especially on either sides of the house entrance (threshold). The second day Special Laxmi pooja also takes place keeping gold, silver and money in front of goddess Laxmi. Sweets are made and guests are invited home to share the joy.  The third day  is "Govu Pooje" where cows are decorated with flowers and  worshipped by offering sweets and fruits. The "Angadi Pooja" is on the same  evening where shops are decorated with colourful lights and the shop owners perform Laxmi pooja for good business and wealth through out the year.  Exactly after 12 days is "Tulsi pooja", on this day the  Tulsi is decorated with flowers, fruits, sugar cane sticks and Goosberi branch. Many lamps are lit around the Tulsi plant and children burst crackers with joy.

NAGARAPANCHAMI
Naga, the serpent god is worshipped with elaborate rituals on this day throughout the district. Apart from the annual worship of the naga,  on Nagara Panchami special poojas are performed at the Nagamandala. A figure of a snake with several hoods is drawn on the floor with serpentine and wavy patterns using different colour powders.  Women  and men go to the "Naga Hutha" in the afternoon and offer milk and tender coconut. It is beleived that every house will be having one Nagamandala or " Nagamula" and every year the members of the family have to attend the pooja held there and offer milk and tender coconut.
A very special and unique sweet called "Manjol erada teepe gatti" (rice cake with jaggery and grated  coconut on top rolled in Turmeric plant leaf) is made on this festival.