Mumbai, July 17: Billawa Seva Sangha Kundapur, Mumbai held a Guru Vandana programme at their Thane office on Saturday July 12 on the eve of Gurupoornima.

The sangha that works for the welfare of the needy in the society following the teachings of Narayana Guru stressing on the importance of education has been granting scholarships to the poor and deserving students, felicitating talented students, extending medical assistance and assistance in matrimonial alliances and has been responding to the needs of their members; they have been serving the society for the last two and half decades.

The religious customs and prayers were led by sangha president Manjunatha Billawa Shiroor. Members of the women's wing, festival

committee and youth wing performed bhajans. Theertha Prasada was distributed to the gathering. The vice president of the festival committee S K Poojary and secretary Sadananda B Poojary conducted the precept devotion.

The website of the sangha www.billawasevasanghakundapuramumbai.com was inaugurated subsequent to it. President Manjunatha Billawa Shiroor who inaugurated the website said that the sangha has taken a giant step to give information of the activities of the sangha to its members on time. "The attempt of the management will be fruitful if the members take advantage of the facility," he said.

He called upon the members to strengthen the community and to struggle for the betterment of society. He said that the celebration of the programme is like lighting the way for the upcoming youth. "It is necessary to make the youth accustomed to our traditions and customs," he said addressing the packed hall of members and the community.

Well known businessman and founder of Navunda English Medium School Dr N K Billawa, honorary chief secretary Surya N Poojary, vice president Sudhakar C Poojary, Sanjiva A Poojary, honorary treasurer Ashoka N Poojary, joint secretary Laxman Poojary Koderi, Bhaskar K Poojary, joint treasurer Jagannath R Poojary, website preparation committee leader C A Poojary, management committee member S T Poojary, Ranga S Poojary, women's wing committee president Sushila S Poojary, vice president Sumathi S Poojary, Rekha N Billava, secretary Sushila Sheena Poojary, joint secretary Sushila S Poojary, Suganda S Poojary, youth committee president Sundara B Poojary, vice president Sridhara V Poojary, secretary Rajashree A Kodi, joint secretary Poornima S Poojary, Nikita C Poojary, festival committee secretary Ananda M Poojary, treasurer B A Billawa, joint secretary Ashoka M Poojary, members of sub-committees, businessmen and community members participated in the religious programmes.

Women's committee held a food festival and several delicacies were cooked in Kundapur style. Members of the women's wing cherished the moments of the festival sharing their opinions and distributing the food prepared by them to the members of the sangha and the community.