Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Feb 18: Shivapadi Development Trust of the Sri Umamaheshwara Temple and the Shivapady Vaibhava celebration committee to organize the ‘Shivapadi Vaibhava’, Yakshagana, agriculture, health, food and cultural mahamela for five days at the temple premises in Manipal from February 22 to 26.
K Ragupathi Bhat, President Shivapady Vaibhava celebration committee and former MLA, addressing media in the press meet held at Shivapady Sri Umamaheshwara Temple on February 17, said, “The event will be inaugurated by Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade at 4 pm on February 22. Dr H S Ballal, pro chancellor MAHE Manipal will preside over the event. Around 50 agricultural achievers will be honoured during ‘Krishi Mela’ (agricultural fair) on February 22.”
The five-day agricultural fair will have an agricultural conference, exhibition and more than 250 agricultural stalls. The celebration will also include religious splendours in the temple, Shannalikera Gana Yaga, Mooduganapati Seva, Durga Homa, Shiva Panchakshari Mahamantra Homa, Pavamana Kalasha, Panchamrutha Abhisheka Puraspara and Maharanga Pooja.
In Yakshamela, various Yakshagana performances will take place for five consecutive nights. On the night of February 22 at 7.30 pm, invited guest artistes will present ‘Tenku-Badagu Koodata Kartaveerya-Bhargava.’ On February 23 at 7.30 pm, the Hanumagiri Mela will perform ‘Saketa Samrajya’. On February 24 at 7.30 pm, the Sri Kshetra Perduru Mela will present ‘Kanakangi Kalyana’ and ‘Shashiprabha Parinaya.’ On February 25 at 7.30 pm, the Sri Kshetra Pavanaje Mela will perform ‘Trijanma Moksha.’ On February 26 at 9.30 pm, the Sri Kshetra Mekekattu Mela will present ‘Mayapuri-Veeramani Kalaga’ and ‘Kavirathna Kalidasa Prasanga,’ which are expected to captivate the Yaksha audience.
The fair will include more than 250 stalls selling pure desi vegetarian food, snacks and dishes in the food fair. The entertainment fair for the family audience and an amusement park will be the special attraction. Various hospitals and the family health welfare department will conduct a health fair, free eye check-up, distribution of eyeglasses, and free yoga training. The fair will also include various cultural programs in the evening.
On February 22, a Bhajana Sandhya will begin at 3 pm. On February 23, from 3 pm, Yakshageetham Udupi will be performed ‘Taalemaddale Subhadra Kalyana,’ and on the same day at 6 pm, renowned Zee Kannada artist Sharadhi Patil and his troupe will perform ‘Gana Sharadhi.’
On February 24, at 5.30 pm, the Kalluccha Prakashan Mangaluru will present a Shiva Thandava at the Sahityakoshti Kavi Kangala. The Prashanth group Of Dance Academy Kadiyali will perform ‘Natyotsava’ from 5.30 pm. On February 25, from local talents, Bharatanatyam and dance programme will take place at 4:30 pm.
On February 26, on the day of Shivaratri, at 3 pm, a cultural programme ‘Pancha Shatakanthagayan’ will be presented under the direction of Vidushi Usha Hebbar, in collaboration with Sanjeeva Ratna Kala Mandal. The evening at 7.30 pm will feature the Sri Jagannath Musical School, with artistes such as Pakhwaj Mahesh Vitthal Samant, who will perform a jugalbandi of Pakhawaj, Dolak, and Tabla with 100 artistes performing together, enhancing the grandeur of the Shivapadi Vaibhava.
The temple administration head, Mahesh Thakur, stated that on February 26, home minister G Parameshwar will visit the temple and participate in the closing ceremony at 5 pm.
In the press conference, temple trustee Dinesh Samant, trustees Satish Patil, Shubhakar Samant, Prakash Prabhu, Ashok Samant, cultural secretary Nagaraj Kamath, health mela coordinator Dr Reshma, Dharmasthala Village Development programme’s Manjunath, Shivapady Vaibhava celebration committee chief secretary Prakash Kukkehalli, and temple development trust secretary Gopalakrishna Prabhu were also present.