Udupi: Thousands Witness ‘Tirupati Srinivasa Kalyanotsava’ at Karamballi Temple
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 20: The first ever ‘Srinivasa Kalyanotsava’ in the district was conducted at Karamballi Lord Venkataramana Temple here on the night of Wednesday May 19. Thousands of devotees, who witnessed the occasion personally and watched the live telecast of the programme through local channels and the channel of Tirupati temple, were filled with a sense of contentment. The 'Kalyanotsava' is customarily performed for seeking the God's grace for the welfare of the world.

In preparation to the ‘Kalyanotsava’, in which the priests perform rituals connected with solemnizing the marriage of Lord Srinivasa with Goddesses Sridevi and Bhoodevi, a special bus with the idols and priests, had arrived in the town on Tuesday night. The idols had been given a warm reception at Srikrishna Mutt here on their arrival. After Paryaya Sri Shirur Swamiji and the Swamiji of Sode Mutt offered puja to the idols, they were led in an attractive procession accompanied by various tableaux and thousands of people, to Karamballi temple.

The priests accompanying the idols performed puja on Wednesday morning. The procedures relating to the ‘Kalyanotsava’ started on Wednesday evening with the arrival of the idols in a palanquin at the dais, and went on till night. A huge pandal had been erected near the temple for the purpose.

The religious celebrations was performed by the priests deputed by ‘Dharma Prachara Samiti’ of Tirupati Tirumala temple. Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt, Sri Sugunendrateertha Swamiji of Puttige Mutt, Adikeshavalu, representative of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Trust, MLA Raghupati Bhat, who is also the managing trustee of Karamballi temple, along with scores of dignitaries and devotees, were present.

In addition to the 10,000 ‘Tirupati Laddus’ that are distributed as Prasadam by TTD during the ‘Kalyanotsava’, the temple had ordered 50,000 Laddus for being distributed to the devotees witnessing this rare occasion.