Udupi: Hundreds witness colourful ‘Vittala Pindi’
Pics by Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Sep 13: Hundreds of people witnessed the colourful Sri Krishna Leelotsava, also known as “Vittala Pindi”, here on Saturday. The Sri Krishna Match/Temple, Car Street, Rajangana, and Gita Mandira were all centres of attractions.
The festival began on a colourful note with the “Sahasra Krishna Darshana”, a cultural programme held at the Gita Mandira in the morning. A large number of children, dressed in the costumes to resemble Krishna, participated in this programme with enthusiasm. The “Yashoda and Muddu Krishna” competition was held at the Madhwa Mantapa. “Lagori” and “soppu” competitons had been organised near the Gita Mandira. Although “Huli vesha” is a common feature during Vittala Pindi, this year’s event was made to look special by a women’s team performing it.
For the adventurous people, there was the challenging competition of climbing the oil-soaked areca pole, erected near the Kanaka Gopura, and bringing down a bag of delicacies tied at its tip. Many persons tried to do it but could not. Finally, however, K.R. Ravi from Mudigere in Chikmagalur, succeeded in bringing the bag down.
The Vittala Pindi procession started at 3.30 p.m. from the temple’s entrance. The “Utsava murthy” of the sitting deity, Lord Krishna, was taken in a procession on Car Street. The “Mosaru Kudike” was the main attraction of the Vittala Pindi. It consisted of earthen pots, filled with milk products, hung from the specially-constructed wooden towers or “gopuras” at different points on Car Street. Men, dressed in the costumes of “Yadavas” vied with one another to break these pots with sticks. A large number of spectators cheered the competitors.
The procession was moved only after the breaking of clay pots at each “gopura”. The Alare Team from Mumbai formed a human pyramid to break the pots.
Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Puttige Math and Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math distributed “ladoos” and “chakkulis” among the spectators. The procession concluded at Sri Krishna Math/Temple and the “utsava murthy” was immersed in the Madhwa Sarovar.
Many cultural programmes were held in front of the Shiroor Math. Te “huli vesha” competition was held at Rajangana in the evening. Home Minister V.S. Acharya and Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda were present.