The stage is set for the biennial Paryaya festival here on Saturday. The festival, which the marks the transfer of power of management and worship of Lord Krishna at the Sri Krishna Math/Temple from one seer to another seer of the Ashta Maths, is an eagerly awaited event.
Vidyavallabha Tirtha Swamiji of Kaniyur Math would ascend the Paryaya Peetha, also known as the Sarvajna Peetha, here on Saturday. He will be ascending the Paryaya Peetha for the second time. He will take charge from Vishwavallabha Tirtha Swamiji of Sode Vadiraja Math who will be completing his first Paryaya.
There is no festival celebrated here on such a grand scale as the Paryaya. Big banners and flex-board cut-outs carrying the photographs of Vidyavallabha Tirtha have been put up at the main intersections of the city. However, most of the banners, cut-outs and welcome arches are on the Jodu Katte-Taluk Office-Court Road-Diana Circle-Old Post Office Road. In fact, these banners, cut-outs and arches have given a colourful look to the city. Most of the buildings are illuminated with lighting.
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The main attraction for the general public is the colourful procession that will begin at 3 a.m. from Jodu Katte. As many as 17 tableaux and 28 cultural troupes would participate in the procession.
The Paryaya Peetharohana function, where the outgoing Paryaya seer will hand over the Akshaya Patre and the “sattuga” (vessel and ladle dating back to the times of Sri Madhwacharya) and the keys to the sanctum sanctorum to the incoming Paryaya seer marking the formal transfer of authority, will take place at the Sri Krishna Math/Temple at 5.50 a.m.
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The durbar function will begin at the Rajangana at 6.30 a.m. Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, would participate both in the procession and durbar function.
Cultural programmes at the Rajangana durbar hall will begin at 4 a.m. with a flute recital by Pawan Kumar and team from Mangalore followed by a Yakshagana performance, “Yadava Vinodha”, by Kateel Sridurga Makkala Mela.
Cultural programmeA five-day long evening cultural events would begin with a saxophone concert by Kadri Gopalnath and team from Mangalore at the Rajangana at 7 p.m.