Paryaya procession sans palanquin this year

 The discordance over carrying palanquin cast a shadow on the Parayaya celebrations on Saturday with Shiroor mutt seer Lakshmivaratheertha preferring to sit on a chair during the Paryaya procession.

Pejawar mutt seer Vishweshatheertha had suggested that the palanquin be placed on a vehicle instead of being carried by devotees during the procession.

Shiroor mutt seer had opposed the idea saying that he was against dropping the 800-year-old tradition.

He had also stated that he would not sit in the palanquin if it was not carried by devotees. Accordingly, the seer sat on a wooden chair placed atop a vehicle throughout the procession.

Keeping away

Puttige Mutt seer Sugunendratheertha stayed away from the celebration. He has been kept away from Paryaya rituals as a punishment for his ‘Sagarollanghana’ (crossing the sea for foreign tours).

The seers of the remaining Ashta Mutts had threatened boycott if the Puttige pontiff was invited to the Paryaya procession and durbar.

The other seer who abstained himself was Adamaru mutt seer Vishwapriyatheertha. He has abstained himself from couple of Paryayas stating that he prefers to remain detached from all worldly events.