the journey continues…

Sri Krishna Janmashtami is an important festival celebrated at my home.Also as we stay in Udupi, the land of Shri Krishna,its an important day for us.People celebrate this festival in different ways.
JayantiKalpa written by Shri Madhwacharya explains the importance of Shri Krishna Janmashtami and its celebration.
Lord Shri Krishna was born on Rohini Star (ರೋಹಿಣಿ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ ) and Ashtami Tithi ( ಅಷ್ಟಮಿ ತಿಥಿ) and hence it is called as Shri Krishna ashtami.Lord Vishnu incarnated on earth on this auspicious day.So it is believed that ashtami is highly supreme which would destroy all our sins and bring good life to us.We observe fasting on this day.In night after taking bath we give arghyam to Lord Krishna.Arghya in sanskrit means offering water with respect.Water,milk,butter,shanka(conch),tulasi leaves and bhilva patre(leaf of bel) leaves are required for giving arghyam.Below I have explained the procedure for arghya pradhana ritual.
Take a silver vessel.Keep the small silver krishna idol with saligrama in the vessel.

We need to worship Lord Krishna, BalarAma, Vasudeva, Devaki, Nandagopa, Yashoda, and Subhadra also this day.
So 3 times you need to put the Bilwa Patra and pour water from shanka(i.e Arghyam) to the krishna idol by reciting the following mantra.
Bhilwa Patre Archane Mantra :
ಕೃಷ್ಣಂಚ ಬಲಭದ್ರಂಚ ವಾಸುದೇವಂಚ ದೇವಕೀಮ್ |
ಯಶೋದಾಂ ನಂದಗೋಪಂ ಚ ಸುಭದ್ರಾಂ ಪತ್ರಪೂಜಯೇತ್ ||
kRishhNaM cha balabhadraM cha vasudevaM cha devakIM |
nandagopaM yashodAM cha subhadrAM cha tatra pUjayet.h ||
(I worship Krishna,Balarama,Vasudeva,Devaki,Yashoda,NandaGopa and Subhadra using bel leaves)

ಅರ್ಘ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಮಂತ್ರ (Arghya Mantra)
ಜಾತಃ ಕಂಸ ವಧಾರ್ಥಾಯ ಭೂಭಾರ ಹರಣಾಯ ಚ |
ಕೌರವಾಣಾಂ ವಿನಾಶಾಯ ದೈತ್ಯಾನಾಂ ನಿಧನಾಯ ಚ ||
ಪಾಂಡವಾನಾಂ ಹಿತಾರ್ಥಾಯ ಧರ್ಮ ಸಂಸ್ಥಾಪನಾಯಚ |
ಗೃಹಾಣಾರ್ಘ್ಯಂ ಮಯಾ ದತ್ತಂ ದೇವಕ್ಯಾ ಸಹಿತೋ ಹರೇ ||
jAtaH kamsavadhArthAya bhUbhArottAraNAya cha
kauravANAM vinAshAya daityAnAM nidhanAya cha |
pANDvAnAM hitArthAya dharmasaMsthApanAya cha
gR^ihANArghyaM mayA dattaM devakyA sahito hare ||

(The Lord incarnated for killing Kamsa, removing the excessive load on the Earth, terminating the demons, for the welfare and good of the pANdavas, and for establishing the dharma. Please accept, O Lord Hari along with Devaki (which also means Laxmi), this arghyam that I am offering.)

Next take the butter and offer it to Lord Krishna.Offer flowers and tulasi leaves.
Now repeat the same mantras mentioned above and give arghyam using milk i.e, 3 times bhilwa patre archanam and 3 times arghyam using milk.

Above mentioned is the main procedure for krishna arghyam.People also give arghyam for chandra in front of tulasi plant.
All festival celebrations are associated with delicious cooking.One of the main dish that we prepare today is Moode Idly.These are special idlies normally prepared during festivals.The idlies are cooked in a special kind of processed leaves of a thorny bush which are in cylindrical shapes.Moode leaves have to be processed and then stitched together in the form of long cup-like formations with the help of small pieces of the sticks found in the coconut fronds.It requires skill to make these containers.Moode idlies are served with coconut gravy and sweet coconut milk.

Celebrations at the temple
In Udupi, Krishnashtami would be celebrated with high spirits.The idol of Balakrishna at Sri Krishna Math will be specially decorated with flowers.They will do Tottilu (cradle) alankaram which shows krishna is just born and siting in Tottilu.The “arghya pradana” ritual will be done 11.54 p.m by the Swamiji of the Mutt in the temple premises.
Vittal pindi
The Krishna Leelotsava or popularly known as Vittal Pindi is celebrated the following day.Vittal is one name of Lord Krishna and Pindi stands for vessel or pot containing milk/butter/curd.Since so many pots with milk are broken today its called as Vitla Pindi.
On this day the clay idol of Lord Krishna would be taken in procession in golden chariot and immersed in Madhwa Sarovara,holy pond near by the temple.Below is the picture of clay idol.

“Mosaru Kudike” is an imporatant part of Vittla Pindi Celebrations.
Mosaru Kudike are the earthen pots filled with milk and milk products.These pots are hung at the tip of 15 specially erected wooden towers that are placed at different points in front of the temple. Men dressed as “Yadavas” during the procession will vie with one another to break the pots, which are called “Mosuru Kudike”.

One more important attraction of Vitla Pindi is “Huli Vesha“.People dressed themselves rather painted themselves in tiger attire dance and entertain people.The Huli vesha has a special significance in Janmashtami celebrations.
The Yadavas with whom krishna had spent his childhood used to entertain him by doing this tiger dance and music.So the same tradition continues now also.There would be groups of these tigers who belong to different places.Each group would consists of minimum 8-9 members who will dance and one would be beating the drums to get the music.Over the years the Huli Vesha has changed a lot. The changes could be seen in performance of the masqueraders, their body language, the attire and the accompaniments.Most of the kids/boys in Udupi can do this tiger dance including my brother
“Vesha” means wearing outfit or costume to disguise oneself.Most of the people put other Veshas also like Hanumaan,Rama,Ravana,Bears etc.Putting vesha is also considered as a type of Harake here.They would pray god for something and if its fulfilled they will put the vesha on this auspicious day.I remeber many of the funny veshas.One is “Kasi” where guys just paint their faces with some color (black,red).One more is “Paper” where they will hold just a paper in the hand and ask money from people.

One more thing I remember is playing petlu/petle.’Petlu’, is a small flute-shaped musical instrument.Its made up of bamboo.A petlukayi (kepula flower berry) is pushed to top side of this ‘bedi’ (musket/gun) by a stick (close-fitting shaft) and another berry is again pushed to shoot out the first berry with a bang which gives sound.Kids love to play this and only during krishnashtami this would be sold on the streets.

Some photos are from my personal collection.I am thankful to below sites on the internet for photos and information.
Reference : www.shivallibrahmins.com
www.mangalorean.com
http://www.daijiworld.com/