Udupi/Mangalore: Kanakadasa Jayanti Celebrated with Devotional Fervour in Undivided DK Dist
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri/Spoorthi Ullal
News: Hemanath Padubidri/Prakash Samaga
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi/Mangalore (RD/SB)
Udupi/Mangalore, Nov 24: The undivided Dakshina Kannada district celebrated the Kanakadasa Jayanti to commemorate the birth anniversary of saint composer Kanakadasa with devotional fervour on Wednesday November 24.
Kanakadasa Jayanti was celebrated at Sri Krishna Mutt under the joint aegis of Shiroor Mutt, Sri Krishna Mutt, district administration, Kannada and culture department.
Swami Laxmivarateerta of Shiroor Mutt inaugurated the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Swami Laxmivarateerta said that both Kanakadasa and Vadiraja lived in the same era. Krishna Mutt gets special significance because of Kanakadasa. It’s the duty to celebrate their birthdays with splendour. It’s through the Kanakana Kindi, the special chasm that provides the devotees a chance to view and pray to Lord Krishna throughout the year, hence it’s truly called as Kanakana Kindi, gateway to spiritual bliss, said Swami Laxmivarateerta.
Meanwhile, Swami Laxmivarateerta urged the gathering to strive to become servant of Kanakadasa, who is the topmost among the dasas in the world.
In his presidential address, MLA Raghupati Bhat said that Lord Krishna is being worshipped with due significance given to Kanaka in Udupi. Sri Krishna was pleased by the worship of Kanakadasa who was a social reformer, who struggled to eradicate social injustice that was prevailing during those days. Swami Vishweshateerta of Pejavar Mutt has been doing yeomen service in order to eradicate untouchability and social injustice which would create harmonious society, he added.
Professor A V Navada of Mangalore delivered special lecture during the programme.
The state Kurubara Sangha regional director Sadanand, deputy commissioner’s assistant Prakash, Ranjan Kalkura, Jayakar Shetty Indrali and town councillor Bharati Chandrashekar were present.
Paryaya Mutt Diwan Latavya Acharya welcomed the gathering. Kannada and culture department director R S Dalawai proposed the vote of thanks. Bhaskar Rao Kidiyoor compered the programme.
The portrait of Kanakadasa mounted on the top of an elephant was taken in a procession on Car Street and idol of Kanaka was offered puja before the programme.
The competitions for the students on Kanakadasa’s Keertanas were held on the occasion, besides display of paintings of Kanakadasa by the artists.
Kanaka Jayanti Celebration in Mangalore
Kanaka Jayanthi, the birth anniversary of Kanakadasa, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, was celebrated at Townhall here with great fervor and gaiety.
On the occasion, a procession was taken out from Sharavu temple to Townhall in which several bhajan troupes, dollu kunita and folk troupes among others participated.
Presiding over the 'Kanaka Jayanthi Utsav', jointly organized by the district administration, kannada and culture department and Karavali Kurubara Sangha, Mangalore south MLA N Yogish Bhat said that Kanakadasa stood equally to other prophets like Purandarasada and Vadiraja. Kanakadasa was a great personality who has given the society what he acquired by his comprehensive studies. He added that Kanakadasa was well aware of dangerousness of ego and lived an evocative life.
Krishna J Palemar, endowment minister inaugurated the programme and said that the life of Kanakadasa is a message for humankind.
Mayor Rajani Dugganna gave a kick start to the procession.
Deputy commissioner Subodh Yadav, Coastal Dvelopment Authority chairman B Nagaraj Shetty, Mangalore MLA U T Khader, Prasanna Kumar, joint secretary, Karavali Kurubara Sangha, Bhaskar Bhat, head of culture department in Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple, Ravi Kumar, secretary, Karavali Kurubara Sangha and Abdul Raheem of Karnataka Beary Sahithya Academy among others were present.