’Paryaya Durbar’, at parking space of Krishna temple

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Oct 3, 2015 :  In a departure from the tradition, the ‘Paryaya Durbar,’ one of the major events of Paryaya festival, will be held at the parking space of Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple, instead of Rajangana, where it used to be held.

According to a press release issued here on Friday, this decision was taken at a meeting of the Paryaya Festival Reception Committee held on October 1. Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt and Vishwaprasanna Tirtha, junior seer, were present at the meeting.

The 84-year-old Vishwesha Tirtha will be ascending the Paryaya Peetha, also known as the Sarvajna Peetha, at the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Mutt/Temple for a historic fifth time on January 18, 2016. No seer of the Ashta Mutts or eight mutts of Udupi has ascended the Paryaya Peetha more than four times ever since the biennial Paryaya system began in 1522. A large number of devotees from across the country are expected to attend the Paryaya festival this time, as it will be a historic occasion. Besides, Pejawar seer is also popular.

The Rajangana hall would not accommodate the large number of devotees, who would be attending the Paryaya Durbar function. Therefore, a view was being expressed by all those connected with the Paryaya arrangements that it would be better to shift the venue of the Paraya Durbar to the parking space, which is more spacious. Even D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, had suggested this shift of the venue.

A huge stage could be set up at the parking space and the area could be beautifully decorated for the Paryaya Durbar. This would allow all the devotees to witness the event. Both the seers of Pejawar Mutt visited the parking space, behind the Gita Mandir, and inspected it. After inspection, they had agreed to the proposal of shifting the venue of the Paryaya Durbar function at the meeting of the reception committee. It was also decided at the meeting to celebrate the “Pura Pravesha” or the customary entry of the incoming Paryaya seer to the city, in a grand manner.   M. Mohan Alva, president of Alva’s Foundation, Moodabidri, who is also in the reception committee, said that he would take care of this aspect. The issues of structures for cultural functions of the Paryaya festival and brining out a souvenir too were discussed at the meeting.

New ways to accommodate for Paryaya:
To provide accommodation to a large number of persons expected to participate in the Paryaya festival on January 17 and 18, 2016,  the Paryaya Reception Committee has come up with the idea of ‘Namma Paryaya – Namma Atithi’ scheme.

A large number of people lived in spacious houses and flats in Udupi. Those having space in their houses could accommodate not just guests but also artistes coming to participate in the Paryaya festival on January 17 and 18.

The Committee has urged those having space to voluntarily come forward and take up this responsibility. The owners of independent houses willing to accommodate guests could contact mobile telephone number 9480345708, while the owners of flats could contact mobile telephone number 9242490489.

The Committee also decided to book many hotels, community and marriage halls in Udupi and its surroundings during the Paryaya festival.