Pics & report: Rons Bantwal
Mumbai, Jan 18: The annual Shri Shanishwara Grantha Parayana (scripture recital) religious programme was held on Saturday at the Neelagiri residence, located on the late Jaya C Suvarna Marg, Goregaon East, organised by Suryakant Jaya Suvarna, national president of the Rashtriya Billava Maha Mandal and executive chairman of Bharat Bank, along with his brothers, continuing a cherished yearly tradition.
The ceremony commenced with Aarati to Koti-Chennaya and Kantabaare Boodabaare, as well as homage to Brahmashree Narayana Guru, and included a respectful remembrance of the legendary “Billava Bhishma”, late Jaya C Suvarna, and Leelavati J Suvarna, marking the official inauguration of the spiritual observances.
The Suvarna family, including Suryakant J Suvarna, Nishita Suryakant, Subhash J Suvarna, Soumya Subhash, Dinesh J Suvarna, Deepti Dinesh, Yogesh J Suvarna, and Deepti Yogesh, actively participated in the special poojas. Chandrashekar S Poojary, director of Bharat Bank, performed the Shri Shanishwara Maha Pooja, while Yashodhara D Poojary, Vasu Safaliga, and Nagesh Suvarna led the Grantha Parayana. The programme concluded with bhajans, Shanishwara scripture recital, Mangala Arati, and distribution of Teertha prasada, creating a spiritually enriching atmosphere.
Narayana Poojary and Jagadish Nitte conducted the Bhagavatike, while Harish Saliyan and the supporting team assisted in organising the event.
The programme was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Sunil Prabhu, senior Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader and MLA of Dindoshi constituency, along with Udaya S Shetty, Gunapal S Shetty (Sai Palace), Premanath S Saliyan (Abhyudaya), Mundkur Ratnakar Shetty, Ganesh Karkera (Thane), Subhash Palan (Dombivli), Pradeep Poojary (Sagar), and Ganesh Poojary (Thane).
Also present were Advocate Somanath B Amin, vice-chairman of Bharat Bank; directors Bhaskar M Saliyan, Gangadhar J Poojary, Ashok M Kotiyan, Mohandas G Poojary, Niranjan Lakshana Poojary, Santosh K Poojary, Dayanand R Poojary, Ganesh D Poojary, Harish V Poojary, Narayana L Suvarna, Suresh B Suvarna, Anbalagan C Harijan, Gauresh R Kotiyan, Jayalakshmi P Saliyan, and Jayashree M Hejamadi; and administrative committee members Ashok K Kotiyan and Nityanand D Kotiyan, along with managing director & CEO Vidyanand S Karkera and joint managing director Dinesh B Saliyan.
Several city-based organisation heads, well-wishers of the Suvarna family, relatives, friends, and hundreds of devotees attended the recital, received prasada, and sought the blessings of Lord Shanishwara, making the annual ritual a grand and spiritually rewarding affair.