Colourful procession marks seer's birthday celebrations

About 3,000 to 4,000 people took part in the procession, which replicated in a cultural extravaganza. The ambiance was echoed with devotional and ritualistic hymns on Lord Krishna recited by the devotees in the procession.

Shobha Yatre, the procession, was taken out from Jodukatte and proceeded to the programme venue, Sri Sudharma Mantapa, covering a distance of about 1.5 km. Pejawar seer was brought in a decorated Sarot (horse chariot), which was specially designed for the purpose in Mumbai.

Several cultural and folk troupes took part in procession. More than 2,000 bhajan troupe members from the State and from Andhra Pradesh sung bhajans and performed kolata on the street. ‘Muthukuda’ (colourful traditional umbrellas from Kerala), ‘keelukudure’, ‘bombe’, ‘kombu’, ‘chende’, peacock dance and ‘beerudu bawali’ were some of the cynosure of the procession.

During the felicitation ceremony, Pejawar seer was offered Swarnabhisheka (Kanakabhisheka), a tradition of pouring gold coins, weighing two grams each, on pontiff’s head. Earlier in the morning, the same abhisheka was offered to presiding deity Lord Sri Krishna at Sri Krishna Mutt. The seer was also presented with a citation of silver plate inscribed in Sanskrit. A commemorative volume ‘Vishwesha Vandana’ was released by Sri Ravi Shankar Guruji of the Art of Living.