Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Aug 16: Even as the rest of India celebrates Krishna Janmashtami with devotion and fanfare on Aug 16, the sacred town of Udupi, home to the iconic Sri Krishna Math, remained quiet — leaving visiting devotees and local traders surprised and disappointed.

The reason: unlike most parts of the country that follow the lunar calendar (Chandramana) to determine festival dates, Udupi adheres to the solar calendar (Sauramana) — a unique tradition observed in the Tulu Nadu coastal belt.

While Janmashtami is being celebrated elsewhere on August 16, Udupi’s Sri Krishna Janmastami will be observed on September 14, when the Ashtami tithi aligns with the Rohini Nakshatra — considered the astrologically accurate time of Lord Krishna’s birth.

This divergence, though deeply rooted in tradition, caught many visitors off guard.

“I travelled all the way here expecting the famous Udupi Janmashtami celebrations. But to my shock, nothing is happening today,” said one disappointed devotee from Bengaluru.

The absence of festivities has also hit local vendors hard. Flower sellers and small traders who had stocked up for the expected rush now face unexpected losses.

“We came early this morning hoping for a good day of business. But with no celebration, everything is quiet. Still, we’re hopeful that next month’s festival brings good returns,” said a flower vendor near the temple.

Udupi, known for its vibrant religious calendar and daily rituals, typically draws thousands of pilgrims during Janmashtami. But this year’s calendar clash has turned what many expected to be a bustling spiritual day into a subdued one.

Temple authorities clarified that the real celebration will take place on September 14, in line with regional customs. The day is locally known as Sri Krishna Jayanti, and will feature all traditional rituals, cultural performances, and a grand procession.

So, while Lord Krishna devotees elsewhere mark the deity’s birth today, Udupi’s faithful will wait another month — a reflection of the region’s unwavering commitment to its time-honoured traditions.