Foundation stone for Parashurama Welcome Tower to be laid in Udupi on January 16

The foundation stone for the construction of Shri Parashurama Swagata Gopura (Welcome Tower) in the northern entry to Udupi city will be laid by Yashpal Suvarna, Udupi MLA and president of Shiroor Mutt Paryaya Swagata Samiti on January 16.

Talking to reporters in Udupi on January 14, Mr. Suvarna said the construction of the new tower was proposed by Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha Swamiji of Sri Shiroor Math, who is ascending the Paryaya Peeta of Krishna Mutt on January 18. The new welcome tower will be an addition to the Geetacharya Welcome Tower, which was in the southern entry to Udupi at Kinnimulky.

Mr. Suvarna said the Udupi City Municipal Council has released ₹50 lakh for lighting the streets leading to the Krishna Mutt. The lighting work has been completed. It will be inaugurated by him on January 15 evening.

On January 17, counters for food will be set up at Rajangana Parking, Nityananda Mandir, and Board Junior College for devotees participating in the Paryaya rituals, serving from 7 p.m. to midnight.

The Paryaya Shobha Yatra will start at 2 a.m. on January 18. After a two-hour procession, Vedavardhana Tirtha swamiji will enter the Krishna Mutt and ascend the Sarvagnya Peeta. He will join other Udupi Mutts’ Swamijis on the flower-decorated stage in Rajangana at 5:30 a.m. for the ‘Paryaya Darbar’ until around 9 a.m. Dignitaries are expected to attend the 10-day programs starting January 18, he said.

In a press note, Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said extra police personnel and home guards will be deployed to ensure the peaceful conduct of Paryaya rituals. Four KSRP teams, 14 District Armed Reserve teams, and five Bomb Detection Squads will be deployed. CCTVs are installed at 70 locations around Krishna Mutt, along with 24 public address systems, six Police Help Centres, three drones, and 12 binoculars, said the SP.