Much awaited: The uriyadi poles are getting ready at Sri Venkatesa Perumal temple, Varahur.
Come Krishna Jayanti, it is time for Uriyadi at Sri Venkatesa Perumal Temple at Varahur, 30 km from Thanjavur. This year the festival falls on August 23 and Uriyadi Thirunal is being held on the night of August 24 to continue till Monday morning. But the festival itself is already under way.
On Sunday, August 17, an Uriyadi pole — three long strong bamboo poles tied together —was fixed on the ground in front of the temple. Devotees throng to have darshan of the deity decorated in various forms such as Venugopala, Kalinganarthanar, Uriyadi Krishnar and so on.
Varahur is said to be the village where composer Narayana Theerthar arrived after being led by a wild boar. The deity of the temple cured the poet of an acute stomach ache and a grateful Tirtha with the Lord’s blessings composed Sri Krishna Leela Tharangini. Krishna actually danced to the tune, legend goes.
It was Tirtha who started the tradition of Uriyadi and it has continued. On Uriyadi Thirunal, a packet of prasadam is put in a mud pot and hoisted upon the pole. Another pole smeared with oil, called Vazhukkumaram, is fixed near the pole. Contestant should climb the slippery pole to snatch the packet. The event is based on the philosophy that man has to strive hard to attain the grace of God.
On the morning of Uriyadi thirunal, the Utsavar is decorated as Balakrishna holding a pot of butter — Vennaithazhi alankaram — and taken to Karungal mandapam. At midnight, the deity decorated as Yuva Krishna is taken towards the pole to the accompaniment of the nagaswaram and Tharangini bhajans. The idol is placed in a specially erected pandal. A person from Yadav clan of the village, dressed as cowherd strikes the Uri mathalam (package of eatables) to signal the commencement of Uriadithal.
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