TOI
 
Mangalore May 2: Once a month on a Sunday, around 50 members from 25 Basthikar sub-families come together at the Basthikar Hall in Subrahmanyapura, Kodical for 'satsang' or mass prayers. The extended family has been congregating at this venue ever since it all began in October 2001.

Basty Shobha Shenoy, a family member explains, "We have a 17-member family bhajan troupe which leads the satsang. The three-hour long satsang that begins at 5 pm comprises stotras, devotional songs, short spiritual discourse followed by aarti to family deities along with distribution of prasadam."

"Satsang session is organised under Basthikar Family Mahaganapati Mahotsava Trust," adds secretary Basty Purushotham Shenoy.

Basthikar Bhajana Mandali, as the troupe is informally known is led by Basty Kavitha Shenoy, a trained classical singer with 50-year-old Basty Shantheri Shenoy and 12-year-old Basty Sushmitha Shenoy being the eldest and youngest members respectively. The troupe meets in one of the members' house for practice before every satsang. Further, family announcements too are made during satsang.

Basty Poornima Shenoy, a troupe member, says, "Satsang initiated and has strengthened family ties. The enthusiasm of Basty Lakshmi Shenoy and her family, who give a miss to other engagements for satsang and Basty Madhav Shenoy, the lead accompanist on tabla who comes all the way from Bantwal, has been a motivation.

Women attribute the success to the unity of the men in the family. The concept of organising a satsang for family meeting was put forth by Basty Vittal Shenoy and Keshav Shenoy. It was the vision of Late Basty Ramanath Shenoy, the family elder, who initiated the work of the hall.