Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 15: Several parts of Dakshina Kannada district will witness grand celebrations of Sri Krishna Janmashtami on Friday, marked by devotional fervour and traditional rituals.

Special pujas will be held at Krishna temples, while other shrines will also host festive programmes. Preparations are underway in many households to mark the occasion.

Ahead of the festival, markets across the district saw brisk business from Thursday morning. There was high demand for flowers, fruits, and moode leaves used to prepare kadubu. Items such as harive dantu (amaranthus leaves), ginger plants, and banana leaves were purchased in large quantities. Flowers like chrysanthemum, jasmine, jaaji, zinnia, and kakada were sold at varying prices.

However, continuous rains this season have led to a shortage of locally grown vegetables for the festival. As a result, vegetable prices in the markets have seen a sharp rise.

According to the lunar calendar (Chandramana), some people will observe Makar Sankramana on August 15, while as per the solar calendar (Souramana), Janmashtami will be celebrated on September 14.