Udupi: Shri Krishna Janmashtami celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 03 September 2010: The main city of Udupi presented a forlorn and deserted look as many shops were closed on Thursday, 2nd September 2010 at around 2pm as I peeped out of the bus from Mangalore to Udupi. Getting down at the service bus stand, I walked towards the Shri Krishna temple on the Car Street (Rathabeedhi) to witness one of the most spectacular scenes and experience the atmosphere of real festivities and the enthusiasm of the devotees of Shri Krishna who had thronged in thousands in the Shri Krishna Temple complex which looked like a huge human reservoir. In fact this was my first real encounter with the enormous concentration of human beings after the Paryaya ceremony that i had covered along with Anil Alva for the Bellevision.com in the month of January 2010.

 

The second day of the festivities in Udupi associated with Shri Krishna Janmashtami, also known as ‘Vittal Pindi’ or ‘Mosaru Kudike’, is an occasion for the people to go out of their homes and enjoy the sight and sound in Shri Krishna temple complex. This has been the tradition since many years. If Mumbai is known for the so called ‘dahi handi’ human pyramids, the chief attraction of the ‘Vittal Pindi’ or ‘Mosaru Kudike’ in Udupi is the competition of climbing the 60 feet tall areca nut polished palm tree and untying the bundle tied at the top of the tree for which the successful contenders would be suitably rewarded. This year there were two such equally tall trees fixed in front of the Paryaya Shiroor Mutt so that more contenders could take part. According to a report that i got the winners could claim as much as Rs. 25,000/- as the prize money.

 

Even before i had reached the spot, a number of adventurous young people had been trying to reach the top, but without any success as the smooth surface of the areca palm tree made their task quite difficult. People were cheering those who could make it even halfway through. Finally, at around 3.30 pm, one adventurer could make to the top and untie the bundle and come down triumphantly. This lucky person named Jagannath from kanajar in Karkala Taluka was lustily cheered by the people. Being inspired by the success of Jagannath, others too tried to reach to the top of another areca palm. Within fifteen minutes, another hero climbed the same palm, but on reaching the top pulled the other palm closer and shifted himself to the other palm and succeeded in getting the bundle untied and slipped down the palm. The second winner, Shiva from Belgaum said that he had been trying his luck since the last two years, but this time he was successful.

 

As the excitement of watching the completion of climbing the areca palm tree was over, i moved further where i witnessed the giant doll bearing men were moving and dancing among the surrounding crowds. A little later, the ‘Vittal Pindi’ procession began from the main gate of the Shri Krishna temple. As the palki of ‘Vittal Pindi’ moved forward, the diamond studded golden chariot with the clay image of Shri Krishna also known as the ‘Utsava Moorthy’ inside, placed on a moveable platform with Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Math, the Paryaya Swamiji and others was inching forward amidst the surging human mass. Halting at several places, the Swamiji was obliging the devotees by handing out ‘prasad’ in the form of laddoos, karakaddis and chakkulis and also throwing towards those who were on the balconies or even on the terraces of the adjoining buildings who were trying to catch the ‘prasada’

 

Jagannath from Kanajar

Shiva from Belaguam

Persons in ‘Huli Vesha’ and other mythological costumes dance and show their acrobatics to entertain the people. The procession concluded at the entrance of the temple. Then the clay idol of Sri Krishna was taken to Madhwa Sarovara in the temple premises for immersion. That brought the curtain down on the ‘Vittal Pindi’ programme.

 

Prior to the procession, there were games for the children below twelve years of age. They were blindfolded and were given a long stick with which they were required to break an empty hanging pot. A number of young boys succeeded in breaking these pots and won prizes.

 

The event of ‘Vittal Pindi’ has been covered by many TV channels and electronic media. I could see a number of TV cameras placed at strategic places, even on roof tops and raised platforms. This was a spectacular human gathering, completely disciplined and well behaved. The security was quite good and the entire atmosphere presented a spectacular sight.