Sri Krishna Janmanstami celebration in South Canara

Sri Krishna Janmanstami celebration in South Canara

Mangalore Today News Network

By Nishanth Raj M

Mangalore, September 31: Mangalore city is fully decked up for celebrating Sri Krishna Janmashtami on Wednesday, September 1. The two day’s religious function will have many glittering events arranged by several organizations in the city to make the Janmastami brighter and joyful. 

 

 

The Festoons, big banners, hoardings have been erected in several places expresses how the people of Mangalore are giving so much importance to the religious festivals. Sevaral organisations functioning in and around Mangalore are fully prepared with various kinds of Ideas to make the Janmastami colourful and entertaining. The preparations for the Janmastami began three weeks back at some places like Thokkottu, Kumpala, Kadri, Mannagudda, Attavar and many other places.

Like every year, this year too, Veera Maruthi Vyayama Shale Trust, located at Thokkottu, has decided to make the celebration more interesting and colourful. The entire Thokkottu region adorns a sure festive look and devotional mood.

 

Like other places in India, Hindus in Mangalore follow a day-long fast with religious fervour. The celebration varies from place to place and people to people. The Conservative families residing in costal district observe the religious festival in a unique manner, where they break their fasting before noon by consuming a piece of Jaggery and drinking basil leaves mixed water. On the other hand, a pukka traditional following family breaks their day long fasting in the midnight after the birth time of Bhagwan Krishna. All through the day devotees remain immersed in the chanting of Shlokas and name of the Lord. Songs and hymns are also sung in the glory of Sri Krishna.
 

But, North Indians follow the cult of worshiping the birth day of Lord Krishna in a unique manner. The credit goes to Mathura, where the birth of Sri Krishna took place. The Birth of Lord Krishna at midnight is followed by performance of pooja and other ceremonies. The idol of Lord Krishna is bathed with milk and curd and then rocked in the cradle. A popular belief of the inhabitants is that any wish made while rocking the cradle is fulfilled on this day. The entire Mathura echoes with the sound of the conch (shankh) and ringing of bells. Devotees pray and welcome the lord with slogans of `Jai Shri Krishna`. After the prayers have been performed, Panchamrit, a mixture of honey, gangajal, curd, ghee is distributed. Lord is fed with the customary prasad of ‘Chhapan Bhog’ (Fifty six dishes). Devotees break their fast with `Prasad` of the Lord. Lot of eatables made of milk and milk products are relished by the devotees. Kheer, Laddoo, Butter, Shrikhand and Singhare ki Poori are few of the main dishes prepared on the day.

 
Udupi: The temple town of Udupi is fully geared up for the Krishna Jayanti festival on Wednesday and Thursday. The Krishna “Leelotsava” or “Vittal Pindi” is one of the cardinal functions in Udupi. Large number of people from various parts of India and outside India takes part in the glittering function. The Krishna Janmashtami or Krishna Jayanti is being celebrated here since the Lord Krishna’s idol was consecrated by the exponent of Dwaita philosophy, Madhwacharya, about 800 years ago. Some people observe fast on the Krishna Jayanti day and offer “arghya” to Lord Krishna with water through a conch and “Bilva” leaves in the night. The Sri Krishna temple is the centre of attraction on both the days in this region.

The main attraction of Krishna Janmastami is Mosaru Kudike:

The devotees in Mangalore celebrate ‘Mosaru kudike’ (Dahi Handi) with all devotion and enthusiasm in the night. Youth comprising of small children to grown ups assemble at a place where the festival is celebrated. The festival mimics the childhood pranks of Lord Krishna who was notorious for thieving curds stored by his mother in a mud pot close to the ceiling where he cannot reach it. However little Krishna somehow manages to lay his hands on the pot by trying all sorts of antics and stunts.  Similarly, through this festival the devotees convey their love for Lord Krishna by imitating his love for curds by breaking the mud pots filled with goodies and curds tied at greater heights on the poles, amid the loud cheering of their crowds. They move in a procession along a designated route which is decorated at regular intervals with bamboo poles adorned with earthen pots. Youngsters form human pyramids to reach the earthen pots and break them. The Idol or Photo of Sri Krishna carried in a pallaki to commemorate the birth day of Sri Krishna and sing religious hymns like ….’Jai Jai Krishna ….Gopala Krishna… Jai Jai Krishna… Mukunda Murari’…

Govinda Hari…Govinda …
 Govinda...