Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Nov 27: The city is enthusiastically bracing for the Laksha Deepotsava being celebrated at Sri Krishna Math. As per traditions, the Lord goes inside on the birth anniversary of Bhageerathi. On Utthana Dwadashi day as per Hindu calendar, the Lord who was resting, wakes up after the Pakshi Jagara Puja. Celebrations in the Math continue till the next birthday of Bhageerathi.
The entire car street surroundings here are agog with the mood of celebration. Devotees were found busy buying fruits, flowers, twigs of the Indian gooseberry and tamarind trees, and different kinds of earthen diyas.
Unmindful of the threat posed by coronavirus, people are in a mood to celebrate the festival of lights. On Thursday, Tulasi Puja was performed. For the Laksha Deepotsava, small wooden planks have been fitted into pedestal that were lined up for lighting one lac diyas. The pedestals stands are decorated with green festoons made of mango leaves and sugarcane crowns.
Laksha Deepotsava is being held for three days from Thursday. The Garuda chariot and Mahapuja chariot that will be pulled through the car street on the evenings of Laksha Deepotsava days, have already been brought out, cleaned and decorated.
Govindaraju, manager of Paryaya Admaru Math, told Daijiworld that all preparations have been made to celebrate the festival as per the directions of the district administration. "This time, the public participation may be a little less, but there will not be any let-up in the celebrations and traditions. We give high importance to health and request the people to cooperate by maintaining social distancing. After the March 22 lockdown, all pujas have been continued inside Sri Krishna Math every day. We have fixed timing for the visit of the devotees to the Math. We do not propose to hurt the sentiments of the devotees. The Deepotsava will be held under the instructions of Admaru Paryaya senior Swamiji, Sri Vishwapriiya Theertah Swamiji and Admar junior Swamiji who occupies the Sarvajna Peetha, Sri Ishapriya Theertha Swamiji. We will this time use pure gingelly oil extracted through the grinders and will use 600 litres of gingelly oil during the three days of the Laksha Deepotsava to light the diyas," he stated.