The Ugrana or store for the Paryaya festival built in temporary sheds has become an attraction for the people as foodgrains and vegetables have been arranged in clean, neat and decorative style.
Devotees from different parts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts donate foodgrains, coconuts, vegetables and oil for the Paryaya festival. These donations began from January 5. The items are kept in vehicles including vans, autorickshaws and mini trucks brought in a procession from Jodu Katte to the Ugrana located at the Rajangana parking space.
According to Vishnuprasad Padigar, in-charge of the Ugrana, till the evening of January 16, devotees had donated 1,500 quintal of rice, 2,000 kg of dal, 25,000 coconuts, 5,500 kg of jaggery, 1,500 litres of oil, 3,500 pumpkins and 10,000 bags of cucumber, 1,500 kg of sugar. They had also donated lot of vegetables and fruits including jackfruit, grapes, pulses and flour.
The attractions at the Ugrana were ‘Kanaja’ (temporary granary or barn of cylindrical structure made of dried hay) a cart where different vegetables were kept in a decorative style and a boat full of ‘Mattu Gulla.’ There were also statues of two cows amidst all this.
Besides these, there were 13 divisions or partitions to store the foodgrains and vegetables. Many people visited the Ugrana to see the arrangement of these foodgrains and vegetables. The foodgrains and vegetables would be used for cooking meals for devotees for Paryaya festival (Thursday).
50,000 devotees to partake meals
According to Mr. Padigar, nearly 50,000 devotees would be having their meals during the ‘Anna Santharpane’ on Thursday. Arrangements had been made to provide meals to 35,000 devotees at the Bhojane Shale, Anna Dharma, Anna Brahma, Madhwangana and Rajangana Halls and at all the Ashta Mutts on Car Street.
Buffet meals would be served for 15,000 devotees at the temporary shed at Rajangana parking space. The Anna Santharpane would be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday.
“After 4 p.m., if the food items were remaining, the devotees would be allowed to take it. This is called Soore Beedudu,” Mr. Padigar said.
A total of 1,200 volunteers would be rendering their services in various sections of the Paryaya festival. Of these 1,200, volunteers, nearly 800 would be serving meals on Thursday.
