Mangaluru: The annual Krishna Vesha competition organised by Kalkura Pratishtana in association with Kadri Sri Manjunatha Temple was held at the temple’s Rajangana on Friday as part of Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebrations. The event brought together children dressed in different forms of Lord Krishna, adding colour and devotion to the festivities.
The National Children’s Festival Sri Krishna Vesha Competition was conducted from 9 am until midnight, with competitions held simultaneously across 44 categories and 12 stages.
Traditional celebrations begin with Sri Krishna Varna Vaibhava
The programme commenced in the morning with ‘Sri Krishna Varna Vaibhava’, setting a devotional tone for the day-long celebrations.
Women participating in the programme added a traditional touch by singing devotional songs collectively while churning curd with wooden churners to prepare butter. The activity reflected traditional practices associated with the childhood stories of Lord Krishna and became one of the highlights of the celebrations.
A new category was also introduced this year, featuring participants churning buttermilk using traditional wooden churners.
Sri Krishna Janma Mahotsava inaugurated
Cultural programmes were held during the afternoon, followed by the inauguration of Sri Krishna Janma Mahotsava at the Nandagokula stage.
The inauguration was attended by dignitaries, children dressed as Lord Krishna and their mothers. The programme formally commenced with the lighting of the traditional lamp.
Sri Kshetra Kateel chief priest Lakshminarayana Asranna lit the ceremonial lamp, while MLA Vedavyasa Kamath conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the participants and organisers.
An especially traditional feature of the celebrations involved infants below six months of age. The babies were placed in cradles and gently rocked to traditional lullabies, recreating the devotional atmosphere associated with the birth and childhood of Lord Krishna.
44 years of Krishna Vesha tradition
Speaking on the occasion, Kalkura Pratishtana president S. Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said the organisation has been conducting the Krishna Vesha competition for the past 44 years.
He noted that the competition has provided a platform for generations of children to participate in cultural and religious celebrations. Several talented participants who took part in the Krishna Vesha competition at Kadri in earlier years have subsequently achieved recognition and success in their respective fields, he said.
According to Kalkura, the event has therefore evolved beyond a single-day competition and become an important part of the region’s Janmashtami celebrations.
The introduction of the new traditional churning category was also highlighted as an effort to connect younger generations with cultural practices.
Participants receive traditional gifts
The organisers presented every participant with a carefully assembled set of gifts.
Each child received a Panchaloha idol of Krishna featuring a traditional Udupi churner, a book on the life of Sri Krishna, a photograph of Kadri Sri Manjunatha and a flute.
Participants were also given gifts contributed by sponsors, certificates of appreciation and a copy of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. All the items were packed in an attractive cloth bag.
The organisers said the gifts were intended to make the participation memorable while also giving children items connected with Indian tradition and the life and teachings of Lord Krishna.
Dignitaries attend celebrations
Kadri Sri Manjunatha Temple Management Committee president Dr A.J. Shetty conveyed his best wishes on the occasion.
Among those present were Dr Harikrishna Punaroor, Dr M.B. Puranik, Dr M.P. Srinath, G.K. Bhat Seraje, Bhuvanabhirama Udupa, Surendra Rao, Leelaksha Karkera, M. Shashidhar Hegde, Ashok D.K., Sameer Puranik, Chandrashekar Shetty, Janardhana Hande, Sudhakar Rao Pejawar and Vijayalakshmi Shetty, among others.
Kadri Navaneeth Shetty compered the programme.
Children take centre stage
The Krishna Vesha competition remained the central attraction of the celebrations, with children appearing in different forms and representations of Lord Krishna.
The participation of children added a lively and colourful dimension to the festival, while the accompanying cultural programmes provided families with an opportunity to celebrate Janmashtami through music, traditional activities and devotional events.
With competitions spread across 44 categories and 12 stages, the event offered children opportunities to showcase their talent and creativity while remaining connected to the cultural traditions associated with Sri Krishna.
The programme continuing until midnight reflected the scale of the annual festival and its enduring popularity among families and devotees.
Celebrating culture through the next generation
The 44th year of the Krishna Vesha competition highlighted the continuing role of cultural events in passing traditional practices from one generation to another.
From devotional singing and traditional butter churning to children portraying Lord Krishna, the celebrations combined religious observance with cultural participation.
The organisers’ decision to introduce a new traditional churning category further strengthened this focus on preserving and showcasing customs associated with the festival.
The participation of children, parents, cultural organisers and devotees made the annual event a significant part of the Janmashtami celebrations at Kadri.