Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Dec 26: The countdown has begun for the biennial grand Paryaya festival of Sri Krishna Matha, with the ceremonial Chappar Muhoorta being held on December 26 as part of the prelude to the Shiroor Math Paryaya.
The Paryaya ceremony of Sri Krishna Matha is celebrated like a grand festival, and as per tradition, the Chappar Muhurta is conducted after four auspicious muhoorthas. This ritual marks the formal beginning of preparations for guest hospitality, anna santarpane (mass community meals), and various religious and cultural programmes associated with the Paryaya celebrations.
The Chappar Muhoorta, considered the first programme of the Paryaya festivities, was held at the area behind Vidyodaya School near the Krishna Matha parking lot. The religious rituals were performed under the leadership of Sudharshan Bhat, in the presence of Math Diwan Dr Udayakumar Saralattaya, who guided the proceedings.
The Chappar Muhurta was held as a significant prelude to the Shirur Math Paryaya, marking the beginning of a series of religious and cultural events leading up to the historic Paryaya ceremony at Sri Krishna Matha.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Udayakumar Saralattaya highlighted the significance of the Chappar Muhurta in the Paryaya tradition and said that it symbolises the commencement of extensive arrangements for the grand religious event. “The Shirur Paryaya will commence on January 18, 2026, and it belongs to every Krishna devotee. It is our responsibility to ensure that Krishna Prasada reaches all devotees attending the Paryaya. As the Matha’s bhojana shala does not have adequate space to serve everyone, arrangements have been made to distribute Prasada in a covered area on the ground. The Chappar Muhurta held today marks the start of these preparations, and devotees have come together in large numbers to take part in this auspicious occasion,” he said.
Welcome Committee general secretary Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, secretary Mohan Bhat, coordinator Suprasad Shetty, Shrikanth Nayak, Rajesh Rao, Padma Ratnakar, Veena Shetty, Publicity committee coordinator Nandan Jain, Vishnu Prasad Padigar, and Math Kottari Sadashiva M Bhat, and others were present on the occasion.