Pics: Joshwa D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Sep 16: The Narayana Guru Jayanthi, instituted by the Karnataka state government from this year was inaugurated at Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple premises on Friday September 16.

District in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai inaugurated the programme.

In his inaugural address, he said, “The Narayana Guru Jayanthi was announced by chief minister Siddaramaiah after he was invited to the Billava Samavesha at Subhash Nagar in Bantwal constituency following the Billava leaders' request. It is a holy occasion for all of us.”

Speaking on the occasion eminent Tulu scholar Ganesh Ameen said, “There are four milestones in Narayana Guru's life. First was his birth in Kerala in 1854. Second one was the installation of the first ‘Shiva Lingam’ in Kerala. Third one was the installation of Kudroli temple in 1912 and fourth one is the today as Karnataka government making his birth anniversary a government programme.”

“Mother Theresa and Narayana Guru are the two saints with many similarities. Mother served the poor and healed their physical wounds while Narayana Guru healed their mental wounds and coincidentally Mother was made the saint this year and Narayana Guru Jayanthi has also been started from this year.” he added.

MLA of Mangaluru South constituency JR Lobo in his presidential address pointed out that celebration alone is of no use if we do not imbibe values invocated by him in our lives.

Earlier in the morning, food and civil supplies minister UT Khader and MLA Lobo jointly flagged off the Narayana Guru Chariot from Kudroli College premises at Mannagudde.