Udupi: with only one week pending for the new Paryaya festival, being held once in 2 years, all roads lead to Car Street near Sri Krishna Math in Udupi where pilgrims are coming in hundreds from all over the state and the shops around Car Street up to the main road are doing roaring business in several kinds. There are long lines of devotees, local and external, going to the temple for the midday Pooja with their offerings and Sevas, and at the Bhojanalaya after the Pooja for daily meals.
The Rajangana which is the venue for the changeover of occupant among the eight Swamijies for the next 2 years to perform Pooja ceremonies to lord Krishna is being renovated and readied for the great occasion give on Jan.18, barely a week away. The various guesthouses around the Car Street have reported full occupancy for those pilgrims who visit Udupi once in 2 years to see the Paryaya proceeding, this time when Sode Math Swamiji hands over the keys of the temple to Kaniyoor Math Swamiji Vidyavallabha Tirtha on Jan.18 when the latter ascends the Sarwajna Peetha at the spacious Rajangana holding about 5000 spectators and about 1000 more devotees on a Balkani surrounding the main Hall.
Opposite to Rajangana is a stately guesthouse where VIPs and VVIPs are likely to stay for the night as and when they come.
The baby elephant of a few years earlier, Subhadra has grown in to a 8 feet toll huge elephant of the temple and is a star attraction for young people who also watch Maadhva Sarovara a tank that immerses a stand when it is full for Teppotsava.
The entire Car Street area on a Sunday hustling and bustling with women and Children who create flower decorations and evening programs on an open stage on the South side. On the whole the entire area is now vibrant with excitement of pilgrims and “Horekanike” teams bringing there offering and presents for the lord in terms of rice, coconuts, various vegetables and the like. There were 2 Horekanike processions on Sunday afternoon between 2 and 5 pm with hundreds of people coming to see the lord with several presentations and band music from the streets of Udupi town. One belong to Jewelry and gold ornaments makers, and the other of Gowda Saraswat community people in vehicles, Band Music, large dancing dolls and 50 Sumangalies carring sacred vessels caring water for Abhisheka and covered with coconuts and mango leaves in their hands. It was a memorable beginning of the Paryaya week, culminating on Jan.18.