Mounesh Vishwakarma
Pics: Karthik Studio, B C Road
Daijiworld Media Network –Bantwal (RD)
 
Bantwal, Mar 11: Mass wedding is one of the most significant ceremonies followed by communities, said ACP Prakash Bhandary of Maharashtra police intelligence.
 
He was speaking after inaugurating the fourth annual mass wedding programme organized by Swastik Friends Club at Kattemane, Punjalkatte near here on Sunday March 11. As many as 32 couples entered wedlock at the ceremony.

Prakash Bhandary lauded the social service rendered by Swastik Friends Club by helping the economically weaker communities through programmes such as mass weddings.
 
Swami Muktanand of Karinje Ashram in his message said that helping the downtrodden section of the society fetches eternal rewards.
 
Mulund Bunts president Nagriguttu Vivek Shetty presided over the programme.
 
Coastal Development Authority president B Nagaraj Shetty, BJP district president K Padmanabha Kottari, state Bala Bhavan Society president G K Bhat, former MLA Rukmaya Poojary, entrepreneurs Vasant Hegde, Dharmapal Devadiga, Jitendra S Kottari, Shivaram Shetty, Purushottam Shetty, Harish Rai, Naveen Shetty, Krishna Shetty, Balakrishna Bhandary, Kattemane Uday Kumar Shetty, Shankar Shetty Virar, Karnataka Malla, Mumbai Kannada daily editor Chandrashekar Palettady, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy member Karnoor Mohan Rai were present at the dais.
 
Sponsors Munnaliguttu Sacchidanand Shetty, Swastic Friends Club president Prashant Punjalkatte and honorary president Abdulla P were also present.
 
Swastik Friends Club founder president M Tungappa Bangera delivered the introductory address. Former president P M Prabhakar welcomed the gathering.  B Ramachandra Rao and H K Nayanadu compered the programme, and secretary Jayaray Attaje proposed the vote of thanks.
 

Awards

Social activists Suresh Shetty Bellary and Ravi Poojary Kakya were conferred state-level 'Swasti Siri Prashasti' on the occasion.
 
'Swastik Sambrama Puraskar' was conferred on Sundar Raj Hegde Mumbai (religious), Dinesh Kulal Mumbai (journalism), Venkatesh Bantwal (journalism), Bhaskar Devasya (social service), Dejappa Bachakere (folklore), Divakar Rao (farming), and Shailesh Kumar (mimicry).
 
The approval papers regarding electricity connection to three Anganwadi centers and financial assistance to five families to build their homes were also distributed by Swastik Friends Club on the occasion.