From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Ramanagara, Dec 16: It is a birthday with a difference. Former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy turned 63 and the entire Ramanagara district, about 60 kms from Bengaluru, was decked up for the grand birthday celebrations and elaborate arrangements were made in Ramanagara.
Leading the State-wide Pancharatna Rathyatra as preparations for the ensuing assembly polls in 2023 with Mission 123 as the objective to enable the JD(S) to form the government on its own, Kumaraswamy took time off from his schedule to start the day by offering puja at his residence in Bengaluru even as wife and MLA Anita Kumaraswamy, son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, daughter-in-law Revathi and grandson Avyaan Dev joined him to share in his joy.
The former chief minister also received the blessings from his mother Channamma Deve Gowda. Kumaraswamy visited the Chamundeshwari temple in Ramanagara and offered puja to Chamundeshwari and later visited darga and church. At the Lourdu Mata Church, where after prayers the local Christian youth cut a 10 kg depicting images of various welfare
programmes launched during his chief ministership.
Police have made elaborate security arrangements in Ramanagara in view of Kumaraswamy’s birthday and the places he visited. JD(S) supporters and Kumaraswamy’s well-wishers have decorated the entire town with huge cut-outs, banners, buntings and arches.
A 150-member team of Tirupati devotees, specially brought for the occasion, will be performing the Srinivasa Kalyana puja and celebrations at the Ramanagara district sports stadium from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Elaborate arrangements for viewing the Srinivasa Kalyana Utsava have been made at the stadium grounds with seating arrangements for 40,000 persons and special seats for VVIPs and VIPs besides five LED screens to enable the people to watch the Utsava.
With entire Ramanagara town set to celebrate the birthday, lunch arrangements for over a lakh people with pulav, curd rice and Mysore Pak sweet in the afternoon and distribution of Tirupati laddus, prasadam and Kesari Bath in the night after the Srinivasa Kalyana Utsava. Women participants will be given blouse pieces, turmeric-kumkum and
taambulams.
Interestingly, 1 lakh laddus specially brought from Tirupati, 1 lakh boxes of puliyogagre and 1 lakh boxes of uppittu have been arranged for the participants.
JD(S) Rajya Sabha member Kupendra Reddy, MLC Boje Gowda and ex-MLC Ramesh Gowda have been overseeing the birthday celebrations along with other party leaders.