Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal
Bantwal, March 16: The 41st anniversary celebrations in Punjalakatte culminated in a spectacular event held at the indoor stadium in Bangla Maidan, Punjalakatte, on Sunday. The occasion saw eight couples united in marriage during the 17th free mass wedding ceremony.
The wedding rituals were conducted under the guidance of priests V M Krishna Bhatt from Karkala and his team, with the auspicious muhurat scheduled at 12:04 pm. Seven couples solemnised their marriages during this time. The ceremony was preceded by a grand procession, which began at Nayenadu Sri Ram Bhajana Mandir, leading the brides and grooms to the wedding hall in a vibrant and joyous display.
Following the mass wedding, a public meeting was held, which was inaugurated by Dakshina Kannada MP, captain K Brijesh Chowta. In his speech, he emphasised that bringing light into the lives of the underprivileged and the distressed is the truest form of social service. "The efforts of Tungaappa Bangera and his team serve as an inspiration for future generations and as a model for others to follow," he said.
Bantwal MLA Rajesh U Naik also addressed the gathering, expressing his hopes for the continuation of this event in the coming years. "I wish that this programme continues on a regular basis and that it reaches more couples in the future," he remarked.
Other dignitaries present included Bantwal Taluk Sanskrit Bharathi president and renowned astrologer Anil Pandit, former minister B Nagaraj Shetty, Adani Group Mangaluru president Kishore Alva, former chief minister’s aide Jagannath Bangera, Bantwal Taluk Billava Samaja Seva Sangha vice president Bhuvanesh Pachhinadka, Karunendra Poojari, president of Buntwal V S S Sangha, Ravi Shankar Holla, vice president of Pilathabettu K P S Sangha, and several other local leaders.
Notable businessmen such as Harish Poojari, Suresh Karkera, and others were also present. Former Pilathabettu Grama Panchayat president Harshini Puppanand and various other community leaders joined in the celebrations.
The club president Prashanth Punjalakatte, event coordinator Rajesh P Punjalakatte, and office-bearers Madhava Bangera and Jayaraj Attaje were instrumental in the organisation. The former club president, Prabhakar P M, welcomed the guests, while the founding president, M Tungaappa Bangera, provided an overview of the event. He mentioned that, to date, a total of 498 couples have been married through the club’s mass wedding initiative. He also urged Members of Parliament to support the central government’s emphasis on promoting such events, which help in reducing the financial burden of weddings on families.
Rangakala artist H K Nayenadu served as the event’s emcee, guiding the audience through the ceremony.
Swasti Siri State award ceremony
In addition to the mass wedding, the Swasti Siri State Awards were presented to individuals for their exceptional contributions to various fields. The recipients of the Swasti Siri State Awards included:
Harish Poojari (business)
Abdul Kunji (social service)
Sai Suma Navada (Yakshagana)
Shashidhar Acharya (sculpture)
Sandesh Maddadka (religious service)
Additionally, I B Sandeep Kumar, Harish Mambadi, Ramesh Nayak, Chandrahas Kadegoli (for wrestling), Adarsh Shetty, D S Bolaru, and Ramesh Shetty were honoured with the Swastik Sambhrama Award for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
The event concluded with a sense of pride and accomplishment, as these efforts not only help those in need but also celebrate the cultural heritage and values of the community.