THIRUVANATHAPURAM: ‘Radha, come here and sit beside me,’’ chirped a toddler dressed as Little Krishna, trying to do justice to his character. His Radha was, meanwhile, busy checking out the different local perfumes with a roadside vendor. This scene was from Palayam, where the kids, along with hundreds of others, all dressed as mythical characters from Krishna’s life and times, had gathered to take part in the Sobhayatra.
On Wednesday, the day of Ashtamirohini, which marks the birthday of Lord Krishna, the city turned into Ambadi, the childhood abode of the Lord, with hundreds of modern-day Little Krishnas filling the streets. The only difference was that they licked the Glucose powder from their palms, instead of butter, to beat the scorching heat.
The procession was organised by the Thiruvananthapuram chapter of Balagokulam, marking the valedictory of the Sree Krishna Jayanthi - Baladinam Krishnanjali-2010 celebrations.
The children had arrived at Palayam in ten different processions - from Vikas Bhavan - PMG, Palayam Hanuman Temple, Museum Junction, Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, Housing Board junction, Vazhuthacaud Women’s College, General Post Office junction, General Hospital junction and Vanchiyoor Convent Road.
Besides Little Krishna, Radha and Kuchela, there were also children dressed as the five Pandavas, Gopikas of Ambadi, Krishna’s parents Vasudeva and Devaki and his uncle Kamsa. There were also floats portraying important chapters from Sri Krishna Leela, including Sri Krishna Ratham, Krishna’s arrival at Ambadi, Poothanamoksham, Kaliyamardanam, Bakasuravadham, Kamsavadham, Govardhanoddharanam and Sandipani Gurukulam, along with traditional Panchavadyam and bhajan groups.
The Sobhayatra was inaugurated by Padmasree Pushpangadan in front of the Sri Shakthi Vinayaka Temple at Palayam. Balagokulam State president N Hareendran presided over the function. The procession concluded at East Fort, where officials of the Attukal Devi Temple received the children by distributing ‘unniyappams’ and ‘avil (beaten rice) as offerings.
trivandrum@expressbuzz.com