Udupi: Traditional Pomp and Gaiety Mark Janmashtami Celebrations
Report: The Hindu
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Udupi, Aug 24: Traditional pomp and gaiety marked the Krishna Janmashtami celebrations here on Saturday. The Sri Krishna Math/temple was the centre of all activities connected with the Janmashtami festial here.
Hundreds of devotees waited in long queues to have a “darshan” of Krishna at the entrance of the math. A “darshan” on this day is considered to be highly auspicious. At the temple, a host of rituals connected with Janmashtami were conducted under the guidance of Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Puttige Math. An elaborate system of performing “pujas” is followed at the temple for the last 800 years, since Madhwacharya, the exponent of Dwaita philosophy, installed the idol of Lord Krishna here. According to the temple authorities, about 40,000 “chakkulis” and 50,000 “ladoos” were offered to the Lord this time.
The swamiji, during his discourse at Rajangana in the evening, stressed the importance of the Krishna Janmashtami festival. After taking a dip at the “Madhwa Sarovar”, a pond in the temple premises, he went to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to perform various rituals. The swamiji conducted the “maha puja” and offered “arghya” to Lord Krishna at 11.35 p.m. Devotees, who had gathered in a large number at the temple, also offered “arghya” to Lord Krishna at the “Tirtha Mantap”. The “Chandra arghya” was offered at 11.55 p.m.
“Huli vesha” was performed by dancers in different parts of the city