Udupi: Hectic activity in Shiroor Mutt prior to the Paryaya-2010

Report and Pictures by Eugene Moodubelle

Udupi, 17 January 2010: With just two days to go for the Paryaya Festival, hectic activity could be witnessed in the Shiroor Mutt, whose pontiff, Shri Lakshmivara Thirtha will be assuming the mantle of the ‘Paryaya Swamiji’ on Monday, 18th January 2010. 

One could see on the morning at around 10 AM on Saturday, 16th January 2010, various types of vegetables, fruits and other consumable items neatly arranged in new basket-like containers and muras of rice arranged in different places on the corridors of the Shiroor Mutt.

Within a short period, people started carrying various items right from the muras of rice and various types of vegetables in a kind of linear procession lead by musicians, drum-beaters and banner carrying persons. When inquired as to where these people were carrying the victuals, someone in the Mutt said that the Shiroor mutt that would acquire the position of the ‘Paryaya Mutt’ has to send all the items of food to the other seven Mutts, starting with the incumbent ‘Paryaya Mutt’ Puttige  as  per  the tradition so that on the day of ‘Paryaya’ the people living in these seven Mutts including their pontiffs can have their food in time rather than waiting till nearly 30 to 40 thousand people who attend the Paryaya on 18th January 2010 are fed. This courteous tradition is known as ‘Olipe’.

One could see the people who had gone to one Mutt to deliver the various raw materials of food returning to the Shiroor Mutt within a short period and repeating the procedure  in quick succession as all the Eight Mutts are located in the neighbourhood of the Shri Krishna Temple.

Just outside the Shiroor Mutt a replica of a chariot driven by horses is being kept which will be used as a vehicle for a tableau on the day of the Paryaya. Close to the Shiroor Mutt an ambulance also could be seen as the government is taking precaution to meet any medical emergency during the Paryaya that will be attended by thousands of devotees, tourists and other people for whom the Paryaya is a sort of grand festival.

Within the Shiroor Mutt assorted vessels for cooking food for thousands of people are being gathered. Following the Paryaya ceremonies all those people who will come to witness the biennial ritual of Paryaya will be provided with free lunch.

There had been ‘Hora Kaanike’ (Outside Gifts) from various groups of people and localities in terms of rice, various types of vegetables, fruits, etc. to meet the requirement to feed nearly forty thousand people on the 18th   January 2010.  There has been daily ‘Hora Kaanike’ processions, the last one  of which will be on the evening of Sunday, 17th January 2010 when the Matti Gullas (brinjals  from Matti near Katapadi) will be brought as ‘Hora Kaanike’ to the Shiroor Mutt.

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