Report and pics: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (EP)
Mumbai, Dec.19: “Dattatreya is known as Narayana, Jagadambe is known as Laxmi. All those who worship both deities are truly religious. The people who are blessed with knowledge and faith in God living in this locality are fortunate for communal harmony. It’s significant that the coastal residents who are settled in metro, pray daily before leaving their house to work. They have fostered their culture wherever they have settled. It is surprising that the coastal people settled in metro are worshiping their ancestral deities and building temples to worship. Its owing to this that the metro seems to have become a coastal district of Karnataka. One can only find ancestral deities installed in traditional worship centers, Bhajan Mandirs and maths where the people offer unceasing puja. May Dattatreya who is the incarnation of Mahavishnu grant you abundant blessings”, said Swami Vishveshateerta of Pejavar math, Udupi.
Swami Vishveshateerta was speaking after inaugurating a religious discourse that was presided by Bunts Sangh Mumbai ® president chartered accountant Shankar B Shetty, at Sri Datta Jagadamba Mandir, Baptistawady, Andheri (East) here on Tuesday December 17. It was organized to commemorate their sixtieth anniversary.
Sri Kshetra Kateel chief priest Ananta Padmanabha Asranna and managing trustee Pernankila Haridas Bhat Vidhya Vihar were the specially invited guests present. Sanjeevini Hospital managing director Dr Suresh S Rao Kateel was the chief guest of the occasion. Devadiga Sangh Mumbai ® president Vasu S Devadiga, Mogaveera Mahajana Seva Sangh Bhagwady Hobli president Suresh R Kanchan, Sapaliga Sangh Mumbai ® president Narayana R Mendon, Naniltar Kulala Sangh Mumbai Committee president Vasant Bangera, Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee honorary secretary Praveen G Shetty and others were the guests of honor.
Swami Vishveshateerta was accorded grand welcome on the occasion. Swami Vishveshateerta offered puja to deity Datta Jagadamba, while the temple priest Mahesh Suvarna prostrated on the feet of Swami Vishveshateerta. The other priests Harish Kotian, Suraj, Chetan and Akshay Devadiga assisted in puja celebrations. Raghav C Amin led the Bhan group that presented devotional music in honoring Sri Krishna and Sri Datta Jagadamba on the occasion.
Sri Datta Jagadamba Mandir president Dayanand Anchan welcomed the gathering. Reenanath, Suma Poojary and Gunavati Poojary rendered the prayers. Honorary president Koraga Shetty, vice president Shekar M Anchan, secretaries Yashawant Amin and Shankar Devadiga, treasurers Chandrakant Sriyan, Prakash Kotian and Dattatreya Choudhary, women wing president Sunanda Karkera and other office bearers honored the guests with flower bouquets.
The sixtieth year celebration Committee president Surendra Kumar Hegde delivered the introductory address. Convener Yashwant Shetty Bannanje proposed vote of thanks. Karnoor Mohan Rai compered the programme.
Entrepreneur Harish R Kotian and former Mandir secretary Gopal C Amin set in motion Datta Jayanti celebrations, overnight Bhajan programme and religious celebrations held throughout the day. Free food was offered to all the devotees gathered on the occasion.
The highlight of the religious celebrations were heritage village laid on 1 acre plot at the Mandir, by the leadership of theater artiste Ashok Kumar Kodyadka, conveying the religious practices of contemporary Tulunadu, traditional food, dress etc.
Foreign tourists arrived at the location and tried the traditional delicacies on the occasion.
Swami Vishveshateerta congratulated Ashok Kodyadka by fetching a vessel full of water drawn from traditional open well for the latter’s creative talent. ‘Shri Kateelu Kshetra Mahatme’ a Tulu Yakshagana play sponsored by Gangadhar Salian as part of cultural programme was presented by Yakshapriya Balaga of Mira Bhayandar.