Udupi: Town Residents Gear Up to Celebrate Srikrishna Janmashtami
 
News & Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 31: The eight Mutts in the city and especially Paryaya Shirur Mutt, town residents and enthusiasts from all over the district have been gearing up to celebrate Srikrishna Janmashtami on Wednesday September 1.

Lord Krishna, eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is perhaps the most popular god of the country, particularly in north India, where places like Mathura, Vrindavan, Hastinapur, Dwarka, Gokul and several other places, which are mentioned in legends connected with him, are located. Stories of his divine sports (Leela), mostly aimed at annihilating the demons, are passed over to children through generations. Scriptures say that Lord Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devaki in a prison cell in Mathura about 5,000 years ago. He was born on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight of Shravana month, and the ruling star at the time of his birth was Rohini. As Ashtami and Rohini nakshatram can fall on different days, people celebrate the Lord’s birth anniversary as per their customs.

This year, Srikrishna Janmashtami falls at midnight on Wednesday September 1. The religious and cultural programmes undertaken under the leadership of Paryaya Sri Lakshmivarateertha Swamiji of Shirur Mutt, which began on August 23, will continue till September 3.

Cultural and Religious Celebrations

Admar Mutt Sri Vishwapriyateertha Swamiji has been delivering discourses every evening. The celebrations of Janmashtami, which will begin on September 1 morning, will conclude at midnight. During the day, bhajans, flute recital, talamaddale, dances and Harikatha among other devotional programmes have been lined up. At 3 pm on September 2, renowned drummer of the country, Shivamani, will play drums.

The women of the town will be presenting a programme, showcasing different incarnations of Lord Vishnu. A special scene of Lord Narayana riding atop Garuda, his vehicle,  with one of the women inside Garuda, descending onto the dais of the celebrations from the upper storey of Raghavendra Mutt, is also being organized, it is learnt. Libation (Arghya) will be offered to the Lord at 11.54 pm on Wednesday.

Decorations, Prizes and Mouth-watering Delicacies

In preparation for the Vittal Pindi, 5,000 garlands of currency notes valued at about Rs 8 lac have been made. These garlands will be offered as encouragement to people who don different characters (Veshas) on the occasion of Vittal Pindi, which falls on September 2. Vittal Pindi is an occasion on which people replicate the way in which Lord Krishna had consumed yoghurt and butter stored in earthen pots hung high up from the ceilings of the houses of Gopis.

Two lac laddus including 50 different varieties of laddus, and one lac chakkulis are being prepared by 50 cooks in Shirur Mutt for Janmashtami. These delicacies will be served to 32,000 children belonging to 132 schools, which are covered under the noon meal scheme of Srikrishna Mutt, ‘Srikrishna Prasada’, and those who will participate in the celebrations.

Best Hulivesha will be rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 5,000. A special prize has also been planned for the best artiste walking on long wooden feet. 16 attractive Gurjis have been erected across the Car Street here, adding to the grandeur of the event.

Flower merchants have crowded Car Street. Sale of covers weaved of jackfruit leaves for kadubu, elongated shapes made for ‘kottige’, and ‘petlu’ has been brisk.

Latavya Acharya, diwan of Shirur Mutt, said that volunteers will be given T-shirts and caps bearing the emblem of Lord Krishna on behalf of the Mutt.

As Chaturmasya is in force, instead of the ‘Utsava Murty’ of the Lord, an idol made of alluvial soil will be taken in a procession on Vittal Pindi day, September 2. Artist, U K Somanath, has been making the idol, which will be brought to Srikrishna Mutt in a procession on September 1.

Paryaya Shirur Mutt Swamiji said that Lord Vishnu came to the world in the form of Krishna to annihilate the wicked demons and decimate evil characters. He said that special prayers would be offered on Janmashtami day, requesting the Lord to appear on the earth again now, as demonic influences and forces have been leading the world towards destruction. He also said that he would seek the Lord’s blessings for the smooth completion of his remaining Paryaya period.

Police Department to Provide Tight Vigil

“As occasions like Janmashtami and Vittal Pindi are used by thieves to snatch and steal ornaments and valuables from unsuspecting devotees, a contingent of 75 anti-crime policemen, 200 home guards, 250 civilian policemen, three Karnataka State Reserve Police battalions contingents with 25 members each, and two contingents of the district armed reserve police will be put on patrol and security duty in the city during the celebrations. The policemen will video graph the proceedings from four corners of Car Street,” said district superintendent of police, Pravin Madhukar Pawar, briefing the pressmen about the measures undertaken by his department to ensure law and order, provide security, and keep vigil during the celebrations.