Udupi: Kollur seems like a mini Kerala in Udupi district

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 07 October 2011: It is a mini Kerala and in the recent times only Keralites are dominating there. During Vijayadashami, the last day of Navarathri it is their festive celebrations conducted with enthusiasm here. This is Kollur Mukambika Temple, one of the popular pilgrimages in Kannada Nadu. Like every year on the day of Vijayadashami a special tradition called “Vidyarambha” takes place here. It is a practise for young children to begin to learn to write.
 
Kannadigas do not have much interest in this tradition, but the neighbouring Keralites think that this is an achievement of their life. For this reason every year the Malayalees come here in thousands along with their young children. Outside the temple in front of the Saraswathi Mantap, parents seat their young children on their lap and as per the instructions of Purohit with the child’s hand they write Ohmkara on the rice filled in a plate and from this the child’s education starts.
 

A child that starts its learning of writing in Kollur will make great achievement in the field of education, is the wish behind this tradition. Also in this, the love towards the letter culture – education, reflects among the people of Kerala, the no. 1 literate state in the country. Also, the Kollur Mukambika deity was installed by Adi Shankaracharya who is from Kerala, this pride works in them.
 
In the recent time, may be seeing the pride of the Keralites, some Kannadigas also have started to participate in the Vidyarambha tradition. But in the temple premises, with the noise of Malayalam speaking, the sound of Kannada speaking could not be heard.   
 
Another speciality on last Thursday in the Vidyarambha, is the participation of  multi linguistic singer K.J. Yesudas and who also began the writing of his grandchild there. The Keralites respect him so much that, some of them even had their children’s beginning of writing by the hands of Yesudas and some of them bowed their head to his feet.
 
Also, another tradition called “Navannaprashana” takes place here on Vijayadashami, which is feeding the child with rice for the first time. This is an Keralite tradition.
 
Overall, there is no doubt that, Kollur the popular pilgrimage centre of Karnataka is more favourite among the Keralites than Kannadigas as more and more rich Keralites purchasing lands around Kollur and the temple is also earning from this.