Paryaya Festival
Paryaya festival is one of the most important festivals in Udupi in South Karnataka. The festival which began in 1298 AD, is celebrated at the famous Udupi Sri Krishna Temple on the fourth day after ‘Makar Sankranti’ (17th or 18th of January) once in two years. Just as the word 'Paryaya' means transition or change, the festival involves the ceremony of handing over the authority of the ‘Paryaya Peetha’ and the rights of worship of Lord Shiva and the administration of the temple, from one prophet of the eight mutts situated at the temple complex to another. The swamiji to whom the charge of the worship and administration is handed over is known as the paryay swamiji.  During 1522, it was Saint Sri Vadiraja Swamigal of Sri Sode math who introduced the system of the two year term (paryaya period). During these two years Paryaya Swami has the full responsibility to perform the customary poojas and festivals of Sri Krishna Mutt.

The rituals to be performed begins an year before the festival, wherein the subsequently appointed Swamiji has to carry out a pilgrimage to important holy places in India for spreading the Dwaita philosophy, and should return back to Udupi a fortnight before the Paryaya festival when he is given a warm welcome called as ‘Pura Pravesha'. The main attraction of the festival is the Horakanike procession on the Paryaya day. The paryay swamiji dressed in traditional robes is carried in a beautifully decorated palanquin followed by caparisoned elephants, giant guises and various groups of tableaus. The colourful procession tours through Udupi town. On the way, the paryaya Swamiji throws various offerings like fruits, flowers and money to the crowd of devotees. At the end of the tour, Paryay swamiji enters the Krishna Math accompanied by the retiring swamiji and thereafter the hand over ceremony is held at Sarvajna peetha inside Krishna Math. The retiring swamiji hands over keys and other articles to the paryay swamiji.

Large number of people from different parts of India attend this festival. ‘Paryaya Darbar’ is one of the attractive part of the festival held at 6:15 hrs at Rajangana, in which many famous persons will be felicitated. Other attractions are cultural programs and colourful car festivals which are conducted for a week. The festival starts in the early morning.

The Car Festival (Chariot Festival)
Car Festival is one of the major festivals of Udupi celebrated on the 'Makara Sankranti' day in the month of Makara (January 15) in the car street. The festival is celebrated for 7 days and so is called 'Saptotsav'.

During the first five days of Saptotsava only two chariots are drawn each day. On the first day, the idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana are brought in a golden palanquin to the pond Madhwa Sarovara, of the Sri Krishna Temple and then is kept in a chariot-shaped boat. This boat then encircles the mantapa located at the centre of the pond, for three times. This is called Teppotsava, or float festival. After this on the sixth day ie, on the night before Makara-samkranti ,the idol of Lord Krishna is kept in the 'Brahmaratha', idol of Lord Mukhyaprana in 'Garuduratha' and 'utsava murtis' of Lord Ananteshwara and Lord Chandramouleshwara in 'Mahapuja ratha' in front of Sri Krishna Temple and a procession of these three chariots will be conducted followed by drum bands and luxuriously decorated elephants.

The chariots are illuminated completely with lights. It is very attractive to witness the three huge decorated chariots being pulled with long ropes by more than 200 devotees chanting the name of the Lord. On the seventh day, the Deity of Lord Krishna is taken for a bath at the Madhva Sarovar and the devotees also take a bath along with the deity. Then the idols are placed in the golden palanquin and then carried to the Vasanth Mahal for offering puja, after which they are taken to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Large number of devotees take part in the festival with great pomp and fervor.

Krishna Janmashtmi (Krishna Jayanti)
Krishna Janmashtami is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Udupi in the Sri Krishna Temple on the Shravana Krishna Ashtami, in the month of August/ September every year. Udupi is considered as one of the abode of Lord Krishna. Legend says that it was at this place that Lord Krishna gave his darshan to a singing saint, Kanakadasa (who belongs to the Kuruba community), by breaking open the walls on the Western side of the temple. From that time onwards Udupi is known for Krishna's leela in the Kali Yuga.

Krishna Janmashtami or Krishna Jayanti is the festival of celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated with great fervour, since the time the deity of Lord Krishna was established in Udupi by Madhwacharya, the founder of Dwaita philosophy. During the festival the roads of the Car street are beautifully decorated with colorful glittering lights. The festival is celebrated at midnight with fasting, bhajans, pujas and various other ceremonies. The main attraction of the festival is the bathing of Lord Krishna in milk, ghee, oil, honey and Gangajal and after that the Lord is decorated with five types of flowers, Tulsi and Bilwa. Large number of people visit the temple during the festival to get the darshan of Lord Krishna in his full glory.

 Devotees take bath three times a day. They offer "arghya" (offering water through a conch and "Bilva" leaves) to Lord Krishna after their midnight bath, and also offer “arghya” to the moon. Children dress like Balakrishna. During the festival various cultural and religious programmes like Leelotsava or Vittala Pindi are conducted. (Vittala is one of the names of Lord Krishna and “pindi,” means a pot containing milk, curd or butter). Several mud-pots containing milk and milk products are hung over the 15 wooden "gopurams" specially constructed at different spots in the Car Street. 

A procession is held by carrying the idol of Lord Krishna made of clay in a chariot around the Car Street.In the Krishna Math and in the surrounding areas in Udupi, special Krishna Kathas and Krishna leela, Yakshgana and Bayalata are held. Sweets are offered to the lord and devotees. Ashtami Unde is the main offering prepared with mixture of various ingredients rounded with gummy jaggery, various types of fruits, dry fruits and raisins. Five types of Laddus, five types of flowers and Tulsi is also offered. During the festival, groups of men dressed as tigers, bears and various other legendary figures, dance in tune to the beats of the traditional musical instruments and visit the shops and houses, and collect donations from there.