Pics: Nithin Pereira

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Jan 18: Udupi witnessed a momentous spiritual and cultural spectacle as the much-anticipated Shiroor Paryaya 2026 commenced in the early hours of Sunday, January 18, with the Sarvajna Peetarohana of Shiroor seer Sri Vedavardhana Theertha Swamiji.

With this sacred ceremony, the two-year Paryaya tenure of Sri Puttige Math formally came to an end, and the responsibility of administering Sri Krishna Math and offering daily pooja to Lord Sri Krishna was ceremoniously handed over to Shiroor Math.

The spiritual journey of the Paryaya rituals began around 1.30 am when Sri Vedavardhana Theertha Swamiji took a holy dip at the sacred Dandatheertha Lake in Kaup. He then proceeded to Jodukatte, where special rituals were performed and pooja was offered to Veera Vittala, the Pattada Devaru of Shiroor Math.

The grand Shiroor Paryaya procession commenced around 3 am from Jodukatte. Sri Vedavardhana Theertha Swamiji, accompanied by seers from various Ashta Maths, was taken in a beautifully decorated palanquin mounted on an open vehicle. The vibrant procession captivated thousands of devotees and onlookers as it moved through the city, accompanied by colourful tableaus, folk dance troupes, bhajan groups, band sets, chende, puppetry displays and classical musical instruments.

Sri Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji of Pejavara Math, Sri Vishwavallabha Theertha Swamiji of Sode Math, Sri Vidyavallabha Theertha Swamiji of Kaniyooru Math, Sri Vidyasagara Theertha Swamiji of Krishnapura Math, Sri Eeshapriya Swamiji, junior pontiff of Adamaru Math, Sri Vidyadeesha Theertha Swamiji, senior pontiff of Palimaru Math, and Sri Vidyarajeshwara Theertha Swamiji, junior pontiff of Palimaru Math, accompanied the Shiroor swamiji in the grand procession.

Sri Vedavardhana Theertha Swamiji was accorded a grand welcome at the Math, with a white carpet laid along the entire Car Street for his ceremonial walk.

The Paryaya celebrations formally commenced on January 9 with the ceremonial Pura Pravesha (grand entry) of Sri Vedavardhana Theertha Sripadaru, followed by a civic felicitation. The festivities will continue until January 22.

On January 17, the eve of the Paryaya, from 7 pm onwards, a series of public cultural and musical programmes was organised at various prominent locations in the heart of Udupi city.

In the early hours of January 18, after 3 am, the grand Paryaya Pallakki procession of Sri Vedavardhana Theertha Sripadaru began from Jodukatte Junction. The procession passed through Court Road, Diana Circle, Mitra Junction, Ideal Junction and Thenkapete, before reaching Rathabeedi in the early morning.

The procession featured colourful tableaus and traditional folk arts such as Kilu Kudure, Birudavali, chende and valaga, adding grandeur to the event. Upon reaching Rathabeedi, the swamiji offered prayers at Kanakana Kindi, Ananteshwara, Chandramouleeswara and Mukhyaprana temples before entering Sri Krishna Math.

At Sri Krishna Math, Sri Sugunendra Theertha Sripadaru of Sri Puttige Math ceremoniously handed over the Paryaya responsibilities to Sri Vedavardhana Theertha Sripadaru. The sacred Sarvajna Peetarohana was held at 5.55 am.

In the evening, a formal public felicitation programme will be held at the Rajangana from 5 pm to 7 pm, and the celebrations will conclude with the grand Brahma Rathotsava at 7.30 pm.