Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 21: As is customary, 'Kattige Muhurta' for the run up to the ascension of Paryaya Peetha by Pejawar Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji in January next year for the record fifth time, was held in the premises of Sri Krishna Math here on Friday August 21 at the appointed time of 8 am.

Kattige Muhurta, signalling the beginning of the process of accumulation of firewood for cooking 'Anna Prasada' meant for being distributed to devotees for the two-year period of next Paryaya, happens to be the penultimate of the Muhurtas, with only 'Bhatta Muhurta' remaining to be performed before Paryaya festival is held. 'Bhatta Muhurta' is normally held during December.

Firewood for each Paryaya period is stacked at a spot specifically meant for it in the shape of a chariot. It is mandatory for the accumulation of firewood to be completed, and its canopy to be erected before 'Bhatta Muhurta' is held. For the specific purpose of gathering firewood, each of these Maths have been allotted ten to twenty acres of thickets each, and firewood also comes in the form of donations.

Bundles of firewood placed on heads were taken in a procession from Pejawar Math. The procession moved ahead after prayers were offered at Lord Ananteshwara and Lord Chandramouleshwara temple by the Math Diwan. Prayers were also offered at Sri Krishna Math.
Representatives of each of the Maths were called out and donations as is customary were presented to them. Diwan of Pejawar Math, Raghuram Acharya, headed the procession, which was accompanied by musical instruments, people holding aloft different attractive religious symbols etc. Seven bundles of firewood were placed at the spot earmarked for them by the side of Madhwa Sarovar and prayers were offered.

Shashidhara Maistry, who has traditionally been in-charge of Kattige Muhurta since several years, was in charge today too.

Dignitaries like Vishwa Hindu Parishat leader, M B Puranik, leading personality, Bhuvanendra Kediyoor, former MLA, U R Sabhapathy, K Seetharamacharya, Chitrapur Gopalakrishna Achar, Haridas Upadhyaya, Balaji Raghavendra Acharya, city municipal councillors and many others accompanied the procession, which comprised of hundreds of people.