Udupi : Sri Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated at the Sri Krishna Mutt here on Monday. But as the Sri Krishna Mutt follows the solar almanac, Sri Krishna Janmashtami and Vittal Pindi (also known as Sri Krishna Leelotsava) festivals will be celebrated with more religious fervour and gaiety here on September 13 and 14, respectively.

A large number of devotees from different parts of the State visited the Sri Krishna Mutt and offered their prayers. The ritual of ‘Laksha Tulsi Archane,’ along with the chanting of the ‘Vishnu Sahasranama Sthotra’ was done at the temple. Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt and Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swami, junior seer of Pejawar Mutt, conducted the ‘Laksha Tulsi Archane.’

Sources in the temple said that though the actual celebrations were scheduled for September 13 and 14, since a large number of devotees followed the lunar almanac, the Janmashtami celebrations were held in the temple on Monday also. Some devotees had brought their children dressed as young Lord ‘Balakrishnas’ to the temple. Cultural programmes to mark the occasion were organised at Rajangana.

Meanwhile, inaugurating the Sri Krishna Jayanti celebrations organised by the District Administration and the Zilla Panchayat at the Government Girls Pre-University College here, Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Youth Services, said that the teachings of Lord Krishna were eternal. His teachings regarding the ‘Karma Sidhanta’ should be studied. As a spiritual guru, Lord Krishna had given good values to the world. In the Bhagawad Gita, he had given a lot of spiritual instructions, he said.