‘Gopuram’ of Enmakaje Opens in Grand Ceremony
by Nina Rai - pics : Ganesh Perla
for Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur
Kasargod, Perla Feb 29: The opening ceremony of the new 'Gopuram' at Enmakaje house was performed amidst great festivities here on Thursday February 28evening at the Enmakaje Beedina house in Kasargod district. The new ‘Dharma Chavadi’ or the ‘Gopuram' was duly blessed by Gurudevananda Swami of Odiyoor. This event is part of a series of cultural events which will be organized here from Friday February 29 and continue till Wednesday March 5 at the same venue.
The function began with the customary lightening of the lamp by various important dignitaries, with the new Gopuram then being formally declared open by the president Dr B R Shetty, Managing director of UAE Exchange and New Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi. Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala could not attend due to some important event at the Dharwad Academy which he had to attend, however he has promised to attend the ongoing function on March 4, informed Sudhir Shetty, CEO UAE exchange.
The chief guests on the occasion were Krishnaprasad Adyanthaya, managing trustee of Sri Mookambika temple, Kollur, Shakunthala Shetty, ex MLA, Puttur, while the other dignitaries on the dais were members of the Enmakaje House Y Vishwanath Rai, Sudhir Shetty, industralist Sachidananda Shetty. All the guests were warmly welcomed with shawls and garlands and plateful of fruits.
Sudhir Shetty warmly welcomed the gathering and began his speech with a salutation to the swamiji’s and dignitaries on the dais. He informed all that for the second time this year the Nemotsava was held in the 400 year history of Enmakaje house, and with God’s grace will be held year after year. He went back in time to recollect how in an unexplained fire everything in the Enmankaje ‘Daivsthana’ was gutted in 1994, but somehow the entire edifice was rebuilt and completed in the year 2004 in exactly the same manner as before and restored back to its former glory.
Several other speakers spoke on the occasion each one lauding and appreciating the work done by Sudhir Shetty and Dr B R Shetty of upholding the cultural tradition of this great ancient country against the greatest odds.
The other speaker was the Odiyoor Swamiji then blessed the function. Comparing a human body to a ‘Gopuram’ he said inside the body too there is door which is our mind, if our mind is pure so is the body, and if mind is impure so will the body. Purity should be both inside and outside.
According to Balkrishna Tantri this event has given an opportunity to people from different castes, communities to come together to work for a common cause for a larger good and the blessings from this will percolate to all segments of the society. This ‘daiva aradhane’ is not just giving inspiration to a house but to the entire society.
B R Shetty speaking on the occasion modestly responded to all the praises showered on him by stating “The fragrance of the Jaaji flower spreads all over and in the bargain even the thread (in which it is woven) simply gains attention.” He in fact gave the entire credit for an endeavor of this magnitude to Sudhir Shetty. He also advised that people go to different places and do big things, but they should do ‘punya’ in their own country and in their own home first. He also declared that what their company has achieved till date is all owing to God’s grace and blessings, on which he has full faith due to a series of incidents in his life, he said.
Speaking exclusively to daijiworld at length, he explained why he started having so much faith in all these cultural and religious activities. He said “for doing all this, conviction should come from the heart otherwise it will not be accepted by God.” A lot of incidents in his life strengthened his faith in divinity, to which he gave full credit for his success. “Can you imagine the kind of success we at UAE Exchange have achieved worldwide? Do you think it is possible without divine grace?” he quizzed.
The function finally concluded with a vote of thanks given by Sheni Raghuram Alva, who lauded all members on the dais for their contribution. After the function the ‘Durga puja’ was performed and later ‘prasadam’ was distributed to the devotees.