The year
Festival calendar
Dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year. The exact days are announced on the notice board a few weeks ahead.
Vairamudi Brahmotsava
The diamond crown is brought from the district treasury under escort and placed on the utsava murti for a single night. The largest gathering of the year by far — plan for crowds, heat and long queues.
Rajamudi Utsava
The crown gifted by the Mysore royal house is worn for the procession. Quieter than Vairamudi and easier for families with elders.
Krishna Janmashtami
Night-long recitation by the gurukulam students, with prasada distributed at midnight.
Upakarma
The sacred thread is changed on the temple terrace. Students and householders gather from the surrounding villages.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi
The northern gate is opened before dawn and the queue forms from the previous evening. Come early.
Sri Ramanuja Tirunakshatra — the Bhiksha Kainkarya
The rathotsava is drawn on the ninth day, after which Ramanuja is taken to the Yatirajamatha where he lived for an ekanta abhisheka. That night the sthanacharya house offers him bhiksha, as its ancestors did for the twelve years he was here — the men of the house fasting from morning until the offering is made.
Makara Sankranti — pushpa kainkarya
From midday, flowers and fruit are arranged on hundreds of plates before Badari Narayana Swamy. Flowers are carried out from the sthanacharya house on the head as the utsava leaves the temple, and at night the Vasantaraga is sung before the mula murti.
In pictures
From the year's festivals
Select any photograph to see it full size.
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