The Uriyadi festival was celebrated with fanfare and gusto on the occasion of Krishna Jayanti at Varahur, 30 km from Thanjavur, where Venkatesa Perumal temple is located. By 11 p.m. the Lord was taken out in special alankaram for Uriyadi festival. Devotees did ankaprathakshanam and those who were to take part in the Uriyadi were in the garb of cowherds. Vazhujkkumaram on which a pot containing eatables like murukku, seedai and butter was tied remained ready adjacent to the temple for the devotees to take part in Uriyadi. Uriyadi means breaking the pot (uri) and taking the eatables inside it. One has to climb the Vazhukkumaram (slippery pole) and take it. They also use sticks to break the pot which is moved up and down using a pulley. Even as devotees compete with each other to break the pot, turmeric water will be sprayed on them by onlookers to make their job difficult. Braving the odds, the devotees have to break the pot .