Farmers from Mattu and nearby villages in Udupi district are preparing a special offering for the upcoming Paryaya festival. They will donate approximately three to four tons of Mattu Gulla, a distinctive brinjal variety that holds a Geographical Indication tag. This traditional gift will go to the Udupi Paryaya Mutt as part of the celebrations.
Paryaya Festival Commences with New Leadership
Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha Swami of the Shiroor Mutt will ascend the Paryaya Peetha on January 18. This event marks the start of his two-year term. During this period, he will perform Sri Krishna puja at the Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt. The farmers plan to make their brinjal offering one day before this important ceremony.
A Tradition Rooted in History
Lakshman Mattu, who serves as the president of the Mattu Gulla Growers' association, explained the custom. According to local legend, Sri Vadiraja of the Sode Mutt originally gave the seeds of this special brinjal to village farmers. The Sode Mutt is one of the eight Ashta Mutts in Udupi.
Since that time, donating the Mattu Gulla during the Paryaya festival has become a long-standing practice. Farmers also follow another tradition. They offer the first harvest of the brinjal each year to the Sri Krishna Mutt as a gesture of respect and devotion.
Current Cultivation and Market Trends
Today, nearly one hundred fifty farmers grow Mattu Gulla brinjal. They cultivate the crop across about three hundred acres of land. The marketing society handles most of the sales and distribution for this unique produce.
This year brought challenges with excessive rainfall in the region. Despite the difficult weather conditions, farmers reported a significant increase in Mattu Gulla production. The crop yield showed notable growth, surprising many in the agricultural community.
