Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jan 13: Ahead of 250th Paryaya of Admaru math which will officially begin on January 18, Udupi city is gearing up for this much-expected grand celebration. The biennial Paryaya handing over festival will be held on January 17 and 18. The 33-year-old junior Swamiji of Admaru Math, Sri Ishapriya Theertha swamiji, will ascend the Paryaya Sarvajna Peeta and he will take over administration of Sri Krishna Math temple and the right to offer puja to Lord Sri Krishna for the next two years.

The entire Udupi city, Car Street, Sri Krishna Math, Madhwa Sarovara pond etc are glittering with colourful miniature and decorative lights. As many as 43 traditional welcome arches have been erected on the roads in the city. Banners, saffron coloured cloth buntings, lanterns and such other things are fluttering everywhere. Arches set up for the occasion have been named after 32 senior Swamijis and rest of them are designed by various artists. Each arch is a unique creation in itself and aimed at emphasising Tulu culture, traditions, and folk arts.

Patch works of roads, cleaning of the city etc are almost completed by the concerned committee and City Municipality Council Udupi.

CMC municipal commissioner, Anand Kallolikar, speaking to Daijiworld about the Paryaya preparations, the preparations said, "We have been doing all the arrangements, which are require for the smooth conduct of Paryaya festivities. This is my first experience of Paryaya. We are ready to extend all needs and facilities it to make comfortable for the devotees and tourists, who will come to city from for away places."

Grass cutting, works in the city including cleaning are under way at a brisk pace. Rs 4 crore by way of special grant has been sanctioned by the 14th Finance Commission. This grant is being used for rendering patch works of roads, widening of the important stretches, cleaning, concreting and so on from Kinnimulky to Diana circle, and Ambagilu to Kalsanka junction, apart from other roads in the city. The government also has released Rs 3 crore towards providing facilities to the Paryaya. For this purpose, CMC will spend about Rs. 10 crore this year from various funds.

"Plastic ban is a huge initiative at this Paryaya. We have given permission only to use banners made of cloth and the Swamiji himself took the initiative to ban plastic and it is good. People will also get encouraged to do that. CMC will not entertain any plastic items for the Paryaya. For this purpose, we have convinced Paryaya Swamijis about the campaign against plastic and requested them to use only cloth banners. Raid is being conducted at many places wherever there is doubt of plastic being used," Kallolikar added.

"Street vendors who are likely to create a hurdle for the smooth movement of the public during Paryaya, would be evacuated, especially near the Adamaru Muth at Krishna Math premises. They have been asked to shift their shops to some other places on a temporary basis," he stated.

Sneha, environmental engineer, said “two batches of 40 men each have started their work to clean the city from Monday and will continue until 20 January 2020. A total of 80 members will clean the city day and night in batches. The aim of the teams is to make the city look more clean and beautiful for the Paryaya festival. They will clean the Math surroundings like car street, Rajangana, parking place and the roads which lead to the Math will be cleaned. Regular cleaning activities will be continued as usual, she said.

For the purpose devotees who come here from far off places, there are 30 mobile toilets, which have been installed at an important junctions of the city including Bhujanga Park, Board high school, Kediyooru, Kalsanka, City and service bus stand, Royal garden, Badagupette, Mukunda Kripa, Geetha Mandir, cooking area near the Math premises, Sanskrit college, Harishchandra Marg and corporation bank.

There will be a centre near the Match which will act as information center, which will create awareness on the plastic ban and waste segregation and management. People can also complain about the use of plastic at the center. During Paryaya, there will be a tabloid from CMC on ‘Swachchatha Campaign’.

As many as 1,200 youths will serve as volunteers on the two days of Paryaya. This Paryaya will be unique as the activities being undertaken will lay emphasis on education and culture.