Traditional decor for seer’s palanquin

Udupi: All the Ashta Mutt seers participate in the paryaya procession which happens once in two years. Each Astha Mutt seer will have the right to choose their palanquin and its decoration. On the occasion of Admar seer Eeshapriya Teertha’s paryaya procession on Saturday, Vishwaprasanna Teertha of Pejawar mutt will have his palanquin decorated in the traditional manner (Tulunadu style) with coconut fronds, bamboo sticks and banana stems.
Usually decorated with a silk cloth
The seer wanted to give a touch of traditional artistry. Usually, the palanquin where the swamiji sits during the procession is decorated with a silk cloth. Sadhu Panera, 64, and his colleagues Narayana Paranara, Girish Parana, Prajwal Parana and Dinesh Paranawas from Alevoor, Manchikere, were given the responsibility to prepare the traditional palanquin for the Pejawar Mutt seer.
They are experts in making the ‘Siri Singara’ and other accessories used by the artistes of Daiva dance. However, decorating a palanquin is a new experience for them.
Siri toppis an attraction
Vishwaprasannn Teertha said, “These festivities allow artists to develop their art and enhance culture and tradition. An attraction for the paryaya procession will be the ‘siri toppi’ hat made with coconut leaves by a Jharkhand youth. The swamiji was impressed with a young man who made the hat with coconut leaves, while he was in Bengaluru.
“He bought 25 such hats from him, which will be used during the procession on Saturday.”