Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (ANK/DV/HB)
Mangaluru/Udupi, Jan 26: Hundreds of followers of Brahmashree Narayana Guru under the banner of 'Swabhimana Jatha', a protest march to Kudroli Gokarnatheshwara Temple here on Wednesday, January 26.
The march was organised by various Billawa associations as a mark of protest against the BJP-led union government for rejecting Brahmashree Narayana Guru's tableau from the Republic Day parade.
Mangaluru
Udupi
The procession was flagged off from Garodi temple by former union minister and veteran Congress party leader B Janardhana Poojary. The procession started carrying Brahmashree Narayana Guru's tableau from the premises of Garodi temple in the city. It passed via Pumpwell, Jyothi, Hampankatta, K S Rao Road, Navabharath Circle, P V S Circle, M G Road, Ladyhill , Mannagudda and concluded at Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple. When the procession reached the Lady Hill circle several devotees joined.
After the march concluded at Kudroli temple, Janardhana Poojary thanked everyone for taking part in the rally and sought the blessings of the Almighty for all. "Also, may Narayana Guru bless you all," he wished.
District Congress president and MLC Harish Kumar, district Youth JD(S) president Akshit Suvarna, Kudroli temple treasurer R Padmaraj, B G Suvarna, VHP leader M B Puranik, Sharan Pumpwell, Garodi temple President Chittaranjan, Garodi temple president Chitharanjan, Kudroli temple treasurer R Padmaraj, Narayana Guru Vichara Vedike president Satyajith Surathkal, MLC Harish Kumar, leaders Ramanatha Rai, J R Lobo, Ivan D'Souza, Vasanth Bangera, Mithun Rai and Shakunthala Shetty were present.
Udupi registers tremendous support for 'Swabhimanada Nadige'
The various Billava associations, general public from the district extended their support to 'Swabhimanada Nadige' against the Brahmashree Narayana Guru tableau rejection on Wednesday. The procession culminated at Sri Vishwanath Kshethra, Katpady here on Wednesday.
A huge vehicle jatha was organised by the committee condemning the denial of permission for the Brahmashri Narayana Guru tableaux of Kerala in the Republic Day parade.
Former Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake flagged of the protest march at Hejamady.
The procession carrying Narayana Guru tableau arrived from all the four sides of the district and hundreds of people participated in the jatha irrespective of caste-race-religion.
The vehicle jathas arrived from Hejamady, Padubidri, Palimaru, Mudarangadi, Yermal, Uchila, Muluru, Kaup, Mallar, Majuru, Belapu, Shirva, Innanje, Kurkalu and serveral associations joined hands in the vehicle jatha.
The priests of Vishwanath Kshethra performed pooja to Narayana Guru portraits displayed on the vehicles. The leaders and the public offered prayers to the statue of the Guru and performed pooja inside the temple.
Vinay Kumar Sorake said, "The Billavas should unite to get justice. I am very happy that the jatha received overwhelming response from the public. The march has passed on a strong message that Billavas are strong enough to fight any anti-social issues. There is no politics in it. All the party leaders and workers participated in the demonstration. The central government has insulted Narayana Guru who was a social reformer and brought many changes in the society. His ideologies are relevant at all times and need to be adopted in our life. Today's protest is a witness to our unity irrespective of our political affiliations."
Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, district Congress president; Kuilady Suresh Nayak, district BJP president; Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, president, Coastal Development Authority; Gopal Poojary, former MLA, Byndoor; Geethanjali Suvarna, Shilpa G Suvarna, Veronica Cornelio, Dr Sunitha Shetty, B N Shankar Poojary, Shivaji Suvarna, S K Salian and others were present.
As many as 34 associations participated in the vehicle jatha.