New Delhi, Nov 28 : Udupi transformed into a vibrant sea of saffron and festive fervour on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow wound through the coastal temple town. Residents lined the streets in large numbers, cheering enthusiastically and creating a grand public spectacle as the Prime Minister’s convoy made its way from the helipad to the historic Sri Krishna Math.
The procession route was decorated with flags and buntings, while one of the largest security deployments in Udupi’s history ensured safety. Over 3,000 police personnel, including 10 SPs, 27 DSPs, 49 inspectors, 127 sub-inspectors, 232 assistant sub-inspectors, 1,608 constables, and 39 women staff, were mobilized. Six platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police and six Quick Response Teams were stationed throughout the town, with bomb detection squads and dog units conducting thorough checks. Additional surveillance was deployed at key locations including Adi Udupi, Bannanje bus stand, and the Krishna Math parking zone.
At the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Math, ceremonial preparations were at their peak. Paryaya Puttige Math seer Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji confirmed that the Prime Minister would participate in the Laksha Kantha Geetha Parayana, a collective recital of the Bhagavad Gita by one lakh devotees, and inaugurate the newly constructed Suvarna Teertha Mantapa.
“He will offer floral tributes to saint-poet Kanakadasa and unveil the golden covering placed over the Kanakana Kindi,” the seer added. PM Modi will also receive a Poorna Kumbha welcome and have darshan of Lord Sri Krishna, Mukhyaprana Devaru, and the Suvarna Paduke. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister Bairathi Suresh, Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade, and seers from the Ashta Maths are expected to attend the ceremony.
Ahead of his visit, the Prime Minister expressed his anticipation on X, calling it a “special spiritual gathering that brings together people from different sections of society for a recital of the Gita.” He noted the Math’s significance in cultural and social life, emphasizing its historical role in promoting the teachings of Sri Madhvacharya.