Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 10: International president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Pravinbhai Togadia, will be taking part at the valedictory function of the Bhajana Saptaha at Kokkada in Beltangady taluk on Friday, November 11.

This year, this annual event is completing 60 years since inception. Togadia is scheduled to deliver keynote address at the event.

Bhajana Saptana diamond jubilee committee, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Srirama Seva Trust and Nagara Bhajana Samiti have joined together in organizing this 60th annual Bhajana Saptaha here, which got underway on November 6. The concluding programme will be held at Sankranti ground at Kokkada at10.30 am on November 11. President of diamond jubilee celebrations committee, Harish Poonja, said in a press conference that about 10,000 people including 5,000 singers of devotional songs are expected to congregate at the event.

Poonja said that the late Purushotham Nayak had begun the concept of organization of week-long Bhajans 60 years ago in order to bring Hindus together at a time when they were at the receiving end of atrocities. He said that this time, 20 Bhajan troupes had visited about 2000 houses in Kokkada,Patrama and Kaukrady villages and Togadia, impressed by this feat, agreed to attend the programme.

Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade, will preside. N Seetaram, Gopaljee, Prof M B Poranik and others will also participate. On this occasion, Krishna Kedilaya Kokkada, Narayan Hebbar Putye, Devachandra Noojile, Koragappa Acharya Aladka, and Narayan Naik Onithar will be felicitated, he stated.

Sharan Pumpwell, Raghavendra Nayak, Bhaskar Dharmasthala and Navin Neriya were present.