Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Sep 4: The Mangaluru Mahanagar unit of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) on Saturday September 3 visited the Infant Jesus Shrine at Bikarnakatte and invited the Carmelite priests and the Catholics of the city for the upcoming Ganesha Chaturthi celebration to be held at Sanghnikethan on September 5.
The Mangaluru Mahanagar Sanghachalak Dr Sathish Rao on behalf of the Sangh handed over the vessel of fruits to the director of the shrine Fr Elias D'Souza and later invited the priests and the gathering by handing over the invitation.
Speaking on the occasion, he said, “Sangh always worked to harness harmony in the country. Since Independence it has tried to unite the people of the various religions in the nation. Today we have come here to invite you all for the Ganesha Chaturthi celebration to be held in Sangha Nikethan on September 5. The priests of the shrine are very cooperative in organizing this event in the shrine premises which is very promising. We also extend our wishes for the upcoming feast of Nativity on the occasion and wish that Mangaluru be a model to the rest of the nation in Hindu-Christian harmony.”
Speaking on the occasion, Fr Dominic, the former director of the shrine said, “India is the only country in the world which has so many religions. The development of the country is possible only through harmony between the religions and same has been stressed by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We are the brothers and sister and the children of Bharat Mata. We thank RSS for the initiative and also give our best wishes for Ganesha Chaturthi to all the Hindu brethren.”
Deputy director of the shrine, Fr Prakash, chief secretary of Ganeshothsava Samiti Sanghanikethan Satheesh Prabhu, former corporator of MCC and vice-president of Ganeshothsava Samiti Sanghanikethan K Padmanabha, RSS Managaluru Mahanagara Karyavaha Bharath Kumar and others were present on the occasion.
Children along with the others offered flowers to the statue of Infant Mary as a part of nine-day novena for the feast of Nativity in the grotto premises after the proceedings in the presence of RSS leaders.