OKULI
Penultimate event of Ashtami Vritha is Janmakatha. On this auspicious day, apart from singing the regular Bhajans, such as Nityaniyama, Navavidha Bhakti, Pardi Aarthi, is followed by singing of Janmakatha, which goes on late into night till about 12.30am, the Vrithadhikari is supposed to keep awake the whole night and offer Deevatiga Seva early morning. The Deevatigas are ceremoniously quenched with fresh milk just before the sun rise.
Then, at about the 10.00am, the devotees assembles once again to celebrate Okuli. Okuli 'mhanathi' is sung, 'Kalla oondo' is distributed as prasad, and the team assembles out site the temple to play a game of Ball made out of Tulsi leaves.
Okuli Bhajan being sung
They dance
Playing with ball made from Tulsi leaves
Then it is the privilege of Vrathidhikari to break the pot containing Dhanhi (curds).
Now the boys rush for the pot containing colored water to play Okuli. Then they move to other temples to offer pooja, and also have holi bath. Finally the event culminates with a dip in cool waters of river Varahi.
Rushing for pot containing water to play Okuli
Playing Okuli
A Cool dip in River Vaarahi
The Vrithadhikari, emerging from river, still dressed in wet clothing offers pooja to Lord Krishna at Gopalakrishna Temple, belonging to Ajith Bhat*. Then Aarthi is offerd to the Samdhis of Sri Sri Gangadhara Das and Gopala Das . The same Aarathi is brought over to Shri Shankarnarayana Temple and pooja is offered to idols of Lord Krishna and Samadhi of Sri Sri Umavallabh Das. This is followed by afternoon santarpana.
The idols of Lord Krishna are taken back to the Grarbhagruha on Chaturdashi. This marks the end of Gokulashtami Vrith at Hattiangadi Shri Shankarnarayana Temple.
* Shri Gopalakrishna Temple, on the South of our temple belongs to Bhat family. A bit of History of Hattiangadi could be found in Sri Ramesh Hattiangadi's translation of late Sri Anand Bhats, grand father of Sri Ajith Bhat, narration.