JOIN USUdupi revels in Krishna Janmashtami grandeur
Janmastami, one of the most significant annual festivals of the temple city was celebrated on Friday as per the solar calender on Astami day of Bhadrapadamasa and Simha month and Rohini star falling on the day.
The entire temple town has been decked with buntings. Specially erected decorated poles around the main Rathaveedhi (Car Street)— the venue for the ‘Sri Krishna Leelotsava,’ popularly known as Vitla Pindi and Mosarukudike to be held on Saturday— has added colour to the celebrations.
The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is adorned with a variety of flowers greeting the devotees. Devotees were seen standing in a long queue since early morning at the temple to have the Darshan of the presiding deity Lord Sri Krishna. Inside the temple, the deity, installed by Madhwa philosopher and great saint Sri Madhwacharya over 800 years ago, was specially decorated in the form of ‘Bala Krishna’ with a diamond crown and seated on the golden cradle.
As part of the celebrations, rituals like ‘Laksha Tulsi archana’ and ‘Mahapooja’ was offered to the Lord by Paryaya Putthige Seer Sri Sugunendratheertha Sripada. Non-stop Bhajan was also held throughout the day at the temple by various Bhajan troupes drawn from different parts of the undivided Dakshina Kannada district. A large number of people from Kuruba community from the nearby villages of Udupi arrived in the city last night to offer ‘Arghyapadhan’ (offering milk and water) under the guidance of the Paryaya Seer to the clay idol of Lord Sri Krishna, specially made for the occasion at mid-night to mark the birth of the Lord.
The marvellous and vibrant event of Sri Krishna Leelotsava, as part of the Janmastami festival will be held on Saturday evening where the main event of breaking the pots hanging from the specially erected poles filled with coloured water and sweets will be held. A team from Mumbai will perform ‘Sri Krishna Alare,’ the human pyramid on the occasion.
Meanwhile, the month long ‘Sri Krishna Maasotsav’ which started on August 13 concluded with the ceremonial valedictory in the evening. Renowned carnatic vocalist R K Padmanabhan was conferred with ‘Asthan Vidwan’ title by the Paryaya Seer on the occasion.