Kanchi Sri Devarajaswami Temple Sri Jayanthi Utsavam : Uriyadi Purappadu

On 7/9/2015 Uriyadi utsavam took place in the evening at Kanchi Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple. The area outside the Tirumanjana mandapam was beautifully decorated with ferns and asters. At first sight it appeared to be plastic but on close examination it  was real ferns and flowers. The curtains were drawn and as the tiruchinnam sounded it opened up. SriKrishna descended on the steps on the left. Varadan and His Consorts emerged regally clad in beautiful crowns and silks and ornaments. They stopped at swami Desikan sannidhi to offer Srisathari maryadhai before procceeding in purappadu. The Divya prabhandham started as also the Veda parayanam. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the Yadava Boy with His peacock feather on the way to hit the ‘uri’. Inorder to prevent Krishna from stealing the butter gopis used to keep their butter-pot hanging on a cradle like structure high up in the air. It was Krishna’s mission to go to such houses form a human pyramid and hit such secure pots. To commemmorate this event ‘uriyadi’ is celebrated the day after Srijayanthi.

At Perumal koil, the Butter-Thief was followed by Deva Perumal and His Consorts. The sky was overcast with clouds and Perumal was stationed under a pandal as the show started. A boy dressed up in yellow veshti with a stick was drenched with water .Fruits and murukus were strung like garlands and lowered and raised by a pulley. Every one watched and cheered as the boy ran frantically to hit the loot. As he hit the target everyone clapped. As it was raining, Perumal waited under the pandal till it stopped. Many people took shelter under His umbrella. He then visited the Yadava settlement where a more challenging uriyadi took place. It was past 8.30p.m. when Krishna followed by Varadan and His consorts reached the temple.

These are some of the photos taken during the occasion…

Writeup & Video : Vyjayanthi & Sundararajan Photography : Sri Elangadu Ranganathan Chakravarthy