Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Aug 20: As part of the Independence Day celebrations, the Vande Mataram group singing and an 8 km long human chain programme along Palm Beach Road organized by the Vande Mataram Foundation was a diverse and grand event.

Despite the drizzle, the public participated with great enthusiasm and joy. More than 6,000 people, including students from about 30 schools from Kharghar to Vashi, teachers, parents and local public, participated in the program. Among them, the participation of more than 500 Kannadigas was special.

The programme was inaugurated by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation mayor Sujatha Patil, commissioner Kailash Shinde, Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre, deputy commissioner of police Barambe, deputy commissioner of traffic Dr Khade, local city workers and other dignitaries by lighting the lamp on a well-furnished platform constructed in front of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

The programme was successfully organized under the patronage of Vande Mataram Foundation founder and vice president Rajaram Acharya, treasurer Dr Harish Poojary, and committee members Sunil Shetty, Manjunath, and Jagadish Shetty.

Local hoteliers Sanjeev Shetty, Shyam Shetty, Dharmadarshi Anni Shetty, Naveen Padu Inna, Harish Shetty Padubidre, social workers Anita Shetty, Janardhan Devadiga, Ramesh Devadiga, Dayanand Devadiga, Jayanthi Poojary, Gangadhar Bangera and Chandravathi Rao of Ashraya Old Age Home were present, along with many others.

First, a group singing of Vande Mataram was held. Then, floral tributes were paid to the image of Mother India, which was decorated in a horse-drawn carriage. Then, dignitaries including the mayor in an open carriage received the honor of a human chain.

At the conclusion of the Moraj Circle, Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji of Pejavar Math, Udupi, performed aarti to Mother India, blessed all the participants, and declared the human chain programme concluded.

180 loudspeakers were installed to make the instructions clearly heard throughout the 8 km. radius. 5 doctors and an ambulance were arranged for emergency medical assistance. Various dance performances were held on 5 stages during the group singing of Vande Mataram. One of them was the Kannadiga stage, where a dance performance was performed by Anita Acharya's group. Purnima Devadiga's Bharat Mata costume was highly appreciated by the audience.

A special attraction of the programme was Jeeth Poojary delivering a presentation in Tulu and Kannada on the Kannadigas' stage, conveying necessary instructions to the Kannadigas.

Vande Mataram Foundation president Shashi Damodaran delivered the introductory speech. Rajaram Acharya welcomed the gathering. Secretary Shanmoogam and treasurer Dr Harish Poojary conducted the programme.