Udupi Celebrates Vittla Pindi with Pomp & Gaiety; Savor Sweet Dishes

By Jayaprakash Kini, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 30 Aug 2013: Thousands of devotees participated in Sri Krishna Leelotsav and Vittla Pindi Utsav at Car Street, here on Thursday August 29.

The innumerable devotees turned ecclesiastically when golden chariot carrying idol of Lord Krishna passed through Car Street in a procession, followed by the folk dances by traditional troupes.  The tiger dance also added flavor to the festivities.
The youth trying to break earthen pots filled with yoghurt and color hung in arches along Car Street were eagerly viewed by the devotees.  The pieces of coconut, plantains and snacks were thrown by the priests seated in the chariot, towards the devotees gathered along the street.  The devotees thronged Car Street, besides several of them were viewing the ongoing celebrations from the balconies of high-rise buildings in the vicinity.

 Swami Vishwavallabateerta of Sodhe mutt offered motion for Ratotsv by offering puja to the idol of Lord Krishna and placed it in the golden chariot.

Its customary to take the idols of Ananteshwar and Chandreshwar in palakim, its for the first time that both the idols were taken in a airplane-shaped chariot because it was being used in order to avoid difficulty of chariot passing amidst the crowd.  It was in the last year, golden chariot had been ceremoniously pulled by the devotees.

The police barricaded the street to enable the smooth procession, while Swami Vishwavallabateerta immersed the idols of both Ananteshwar and Chandreshwar into Madwa Sarovar, after the mega chariot procession.

Dining facility

Free food was served to over 30,000 devotees on the occasion of Vittla Pindi celebration. The free food was sponsored by Sri Krishna Mukyaprana Seva Samiti, Bhuvanendra Kidiyoor, Hiriyanna Kidiyoor and Yuvaraj Muscat.  The devotees savored the vegetarian food along with sweet dishes.

A devotional singing programme was staged by different Bhajan groups throughout on Thursday August 29.

 

 

High security

The security has been beefed up in and around the vicinity of Sri Krishna mutt, along Car Street.  The security men physically checked the devotees at the many entry points.

In the last year, many cases of pickpockets were reported, while this year additional police force has been deployed in the location.  Western Range IGP Pratap Reddy, SP Dr M B Moralingaiah was present at the Car Street.

There was chaos when the devotees tried to exit at once from Car Street, and the people arriving to witness the cultural programmes in Car Street.  The policemen tried with great difficulty to control the situation.