Udupi, Mangalore, September 8: Saturday saw the district of Udupi celebrate Srikrishna Janmashtami with pomp and gaiety, marking the birth of lord Krishna.
Thousands of devotees thronged the Udupi Sri Krishna temple on Saturday to catch a glimpse of the idol of lord Krishna.
As part of the celebrations, Shiroor Mutt pontiff Laxmivara Theertha organised a series of competitions and cultural programmes, such as Muddu Krishna, Mosaru Kudike and Huli Vesha, along with tug-of-war, breaking the pot by forming human pyramids and breaking a curd-filled pot blindfolded. Rs 8 lakh was set aside as prize money. Garlands of currency notes had been prepared at Shiroor Mutt to honour the winners and participants. The Mutt has also sponsored Bannanje Mahila Tanda, a women's team to depict the sequence of Hanuman carrying Sanjeevani mountain.
The entire town and Car Street had been decorated with flowers and poles had been erected around the street to hold 'Sri Krishna Leelotsav' locally known as 'Vittlapindi' or 'Mosarukudike' with the participation of Swamijis of Asta Mutt (eight mutt) of Udupi and large number of devotees who have already come from various parts of the country.
Mothers could be seen hurrying along with little kids dressed up for the Krishna-vesha competition in the city's Car Street early morning.
On the Janmashtami Day, Arghya, offering of milk and water to the specially-made clay idol of Lord Sri Krishna at the sanctorum of the Sri Krishna temple, was performed at midnight. The colourful procession of the presiding deity was held in the afternoon along with several fancy and folk and cultural troupes and tiger dances during the day.
Vitla Pindi festivities, marking the childhood activities of lord Krishna, will begin from 3 pm on Sunday.
Mangalore
Although there are no temples in Mangalore devoted entirely to Sri Krishna, Janmashtami was elaborately celebrated in the city by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in all of its branches at Attavar, Arya Samaj Road and Bunts Hostel Circle.
Cultural activities such as Mosaru Kudike and Huli Vesha were organised across the city to celebrate the birth of lord Krishna.
The famous “Bala Krishna” competitions were also held by various organisations in the city. Flower vendors enjoyed good business as flowers were in great demand to garland the idols of Lord Krishna.
Krishna Janmashtami is one of the major Hindu festivals celebrated across the nation with local beliefs and traditions in celebrating the festival.
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