A renowned biennial festival of India, actually it used to happen at Udupi, Karnataka. The festival is called as Paryaya, may be it is not that much of familiar. Rather than festival Paryaya should called as a system where a group of eight Swamijis (pontiff or monk) take the responsibility of worship for Lord Krishna and run the administration of temple of that idol which is famous at Udupi as Srikrishna matha/temple.
The decorated chariot to carry the idol for circumcision the Temple periphery
This city is also known as mathura of South India due to it's pilgrimage about lord Krishna. On 18th January of 2020 this festival was occurred here where a huge number of people used to gather to pray and worship. It was the 250th Paryaya and the system began since 1522 CE. The current Prayay Swamiji is Sri Esapriya Tirtha Swamiji, a pontiff under Adamaru matha and till 18th January of 2022 they will be incharge of maintenance. Earlier the Parlay was taking place once in two months.
The Admar Matha which group among 8 are being responsible and admin incharge for the current two years.
The old temple is wooden carved and followed Dravidian style where the Gopura(gate) is painted in different colour during this festival. In the evening long queue will be in front of the temple. The sacred Madhav Sarovar in just beside the temple where a small square stature are positioned at mid of the pond alike other teerthas (holy lake) at the surroundings of South Indian temples.
Madhav Sarovar where the idol circumcised the pond in a boat
I was waiting in that long queue to enter into the temple to see the Arati. Because during my last trip on 2019 I had seen the marvellous shining flames of around thousand lighting diyas inside the temple with a dignified incantation during the evening Arati. But this time due to Paryaya it might have a different schedule so the idol was having bathe in the Madhav Sarovar and it was illuminated so nicely that I have to climb some fence to capture & click the moments. A gathering of around 1 lakh of people used to happen during this festival.
The illuminated chariot and crowd to celebrate the festival
The reflection, rituals and the colourful rays of lights really awesome. It was a nice experience to view those ceremonial rituals, such as the idol was moving around the middle positioning small temple within the pond in a small boat with some priests. There are some chariots to carry the idol for circumambulation around the temple and when it was started there was some magic of firecrackers in the sky. Definitely some unique techniques were used to crack the lightings. It was a vivid and awesome moment.
A type of fire cracker lighting in front of the chariot where people gather to be blessed.
A ritual of burins long cloth during the festival.
This is my second time to visit Udupi, a small beach city & pilgrimage site. Both the times I have seen different aspects of the city. Udupi is a mixture of ancient and advanced lifestyles where you can spend some solitude moments at the mind-blowing beaches and if you are a devotee go to the 800 years old matha. But being a traveller I would love to see the nooks from old fashioned temple to the sandy-rocky beaches. There is a mellifluent legend about the matha and the beauty of Udupi city. I have mentioned that in my previous blog, Udupi and Srikrishna Matha.
An awesome eye catching snap of Kapu beach and surroundings
What to do in Udupi?
This place can be visited any time during the year. The list of places you shouldn't miss are here,
1. Srikrishna Matha:
Already mentioned about the temple. Wherever you will stay this temple will be walk by distance as it is central position of the city.
Entrance of Krishna Matha illuminated for this festival
2. Adjacent market:
The surrounding temple areas are possessed some old architectural double storied buildings, a market where men and women are in their traditional attires, Gajra of my favourite Aboli flowers which brings a flashback of 1990's movie where typical South Indian cultures were portrayed. If you are culture explorer and love to see the different forms of this country definitely will the enjoy the traditional ambience.
A local Rangoli vendor showing his design templates.
During thr evening when the Arati is happened a Bhajan is performed by a group of singers called Bhajan Mandali. Requesting you to spend some time to listen traditional Dhrupad and Kheyal of Indian classical music. If you have good understood about the tunes of Dhrupadi Ragas don't miss It because this is very rare and you no need to pay a single rupee to listen those classical form of music, i.e. Shastriya Sangeet.
3. St. Mary's Island:
Legend said that in 1498 CE the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Game landed in this island first time and according to his mother's name the island carry the name 'Mary'. A wonderful fully covered molluscs shell's island. A promising cool place to spend a whole day properly. But, you have to travel via vessel from the nearest beach to the island. I went there two times, get the details from my earlier blog - St. Mary's Island
The view if Island from the coming vessel
4. Kapu Beach:
Sunset, light house, sand, breeze, coffee, photography and your own moments, all are in a same frame at the same time. A bit cliff beach but you know that golden shades of the sky when turns to crimson red and the bright sun will be a red dot, that 30-40 minutes are enough to be charged. It is said that the ocean never takes anything from you even you have dropped something, alike the breeze of that ocean always gives you may be energy, may be memories, or may be some sort of deeds.
Be more & more compassionate for the animals. PLEASE do not ride on their back.
The order of Paryaya for the eight groups:
Palimaru Matha
Adamaru Matha - current matha for the administration of temple and responsible for the idol.
Krishnapura Matha - for the 2022 this group will be responsible.
Puthige Matha
Shiroor Matha
Sodhe Matha
Kaniyooru Matha
Pejawara Matha
Photographs:
The formation of columnar shaped basalt rock at the sea shore of St. Mary's island.
The light house, light of that day's last sun and a kid playing with the flag.
The beautiful illumination of a resident's home just at an adjacent lane of the temple area.
Tradition Kannad attires for the baby girls at the market area.
A flower vendor in his shop, feeling tired I guess.
A deadly combination
Inside of the St. Mary's Island, a place to spend a good day.
I am posing with the blue attire where the blue sky and blue sea imposed, perfect matched of background
Local vendor to sell the hand craft jewelleries at the market area.
At last a selfie with a priest.
The entrance gate of Udupi city, illumination makes the city more gorgeous.
The Gopura(gate) of the tDravidian style architecture temple.
The inside view of Admar Matha where the ritual of worship for the responsible group taken .
Decoration inside the Paryaya of Admar Matha.
The decoration and creativities are everywhere even the bulls are also participated in the festival.
We the people chilling at the Kapu beach ready to be the witness of festival
Food:
For the fish lovers, an authenticate Kannada dish of marine fish, native rice and some large shaped beans curry and spice chutney at the Annanpurna Restaurant.
Don't miss the authenticity of Neer Dosa at the Udupi, though nowadays it is tough to get the dosa because due to the decrease of sales they only prepared it on Sunday (9 am - 12 pm).
Recommendation: Don't miss the authenticate Neer Dosa, special type of dosa where water i.e. neer is mixed with the dosa batter.
বর্ষাকালের সিগনেচার বলা হয় কদম ফুলকে , আরেক নাম নীপ , " এসো নীপ বনে ... " কবিতা তো জানাই আছে যাতে বর্ষা মানেই নীপ ( কদম্ব ও বলে অনেক রাজ্যে ) । খুব পরিচিত এই ফুল , নিটোল গোলাকার , প্রথমে সবুজ , পরে লাল থেকে টকটকে কমলা রঙের সাথে অসংখ্য লম্বা সাদা ফ্রিলস পুরো ফুল জুড়ে । হাতে নিলে বোঝা যায় বেশ একটু ভারী , মানে কাউকে ঢিল ছুড়ে মারার মতো আর ওই সাদা ফ্রিলস গুলো এমনিতে নরম কিন্তু ছুড়লে হুঁহুঁ , লাগবে বেশ। খুব মিষ্টি একটা গন্ধ আছে , গাছের পাস দিয়ে গেলেই টের পাওয়া যায় ফুল ফুটেছে ( কদম তলায় কে ?) । প্রচুর ফ্র্যাংগনান্স বা আতর তৈরি হয় এই গন্ধের। আমাদের দেশের লিপিগুলোতে কদম ফুলের ও গাছের নাম আছে আর আমাদের পৌরাণিক কথকথায় কদম ফুলের বড়ো মুখ্য একটা জায়গা আছে। ভারতের উত্তর দিকে , ভগবৎ পুরান থেকে শুরু রাধা ও কৃষ্ণের দুজনের জীবনেই কদম ফুল বেশ গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। বৃন্দাবন - মথুরায় , গোবর্দ্ধন পাহাড়ের দিকে প্রচুর কদম গাছ , এই সময় মানে বর্ষাকালে একবার রাধে - রাধে
এখানে সকাল হয় না, সকাল আসে... কার লেখা, কোন উপন্যাস, অনেকেই জানেন। গল্পটা এরকম... ডিসেম্বরে হুট্ করে বাইক নিয়ে কোথাও যাওয়া যায় ঠিকই, কিন্তু থাকার জায়গা পেতে চাপ হয়। যেমন এবার হোলো ! ম্যাপ খুঁজে খুঁজে হোমস্টে দেখছি আর ফোন করে যাচ্ছি, ' নাহঃ, ওই সময় ফাঁকা নেই', বেশ কয়েক জায়গা থেকে এক উত্তর পেয়ে ভাবছি কি করবো ! তখনই আমায়রা হোমস্টে-র ওনার রাজ কিশোর গুপ্তা রিং ব্যাক করে 'ম্যাক গার্ডেন-র' হোমস্টে-র কেয়ার টেকার মনজয় দার ফোন নম্বর দিলেন। কল করে জানালাম, পরের দিন যাচ্ছি, একটা ঘরই আমার লাগবে। দু-তিন থাকবো বলাতে বললো, দুদিনই হবে তিন নম্বর দিন অলরেডি বুকড। সাত একর জমির এক কোণে এক কোলোনিয়াল বিল্ডিং, মানে টালির ছাদের কুঁড়েঘর। আম বাগানে ঘেরা, বিরাট এক লন সামনে। গেটের ডানদিকে আলু, সর্ষের খেত। টিয়া, ধূসর রঙের ধনেশ চোখের সামনে নেচে বেড়াচ্ছে। বাড়ির ভেতরে তিনটে পার্টিশন, প্রথম দরজা দিয়ে ঢুকেই বসার জায়গা আর দুই প্রান্তে দুটো ঘর। ওই জায়গা পেরিয়ে পেড়িয়ে আবার আর একটা দরজা ও দুই প্রান্তে ডান দিকে-বাঁদিকে দুটো ঘর। মাঝের বসার জায়গায় একটা ফায়ারপ্লেস। শীতকালে গেলে দিব্বি জ্বালিয়ে রাত কাটানো য
Since couple of months planning to go in the Gunj but due to some other directions wasn't able to reach there. Finally at the end of year 2023 reached there, stayed in the colonial hut and explored the place on my motorcycle. The Gunj means the McCluskieganj, during mid nineties this hamlet was known as Mini England as it was the place for Anglo-Indians. But now only few family of Anglo-Indians are living here. Yeah, here is scope to stay in the colonial tiles hut as few of the homes are still maintaining the traditional home. I reached on 22nd of December, and had an advanced booking as this time become so crowded due to the holiday and festive season. While I was looking for my stay in Gunj as I used to do getting the contacts from google and calling them. Most of the homestay were not vacant on the dates which I decided to be there, but from the owner of Amyra homestay got a contact of Manojay the care taker Mac Garden and for 2 days he has a room. Here is a story, Mr. Raj Kisho
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