Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Vadodara
Vadodara, Jan 7: Marking a significant spiritual milestone, Gujarat Billava Sangha organised a collective Sri Satyanarayana Katha Pooja along with abhisheka to Brahmashri Narayana Guru in a solemn and devotional atmosphere on Sunday at the Sangha’s Sri Baidyashri Cultural Hall at Alkapura, Vadodara.
The religious programme was conducted under the guidance of the Sangha’s Honorary President Dayanand Bontra (Belmannu), Vadodara, and under the leadership of GBS president Harish V Poojary Madyar (Derlakatte). Dayanand Bontra inaugurated the ceremonies by lighting the traditional lamp and extended his best wishes on the occasion.
Following the prana pratishtha of Brahmashri Narayana Guru at the Alkapura Sangha temple, the event marked the first-ever abhisheka performed to the Guru at the shrine. The morning rituals were carried out by priest Sri Dhananjaya Shanti in strict adherence to Vedic traditions. This was followed by the collective Sri Satyanarayana Katha Pooja, culminating in a grand mangalarati in the afternoon, during which blessings were invoked upon the large gathering of devotees.
The poojas were sponsored by Harish V Poojary and Shobha H Poojary. Annasantarpane (community meal) was organised as a service offering by the family of former Gujarat Billava Sangha President Manoj C Poojary (Surat).
Prominent attendees included Pramila Shashidhar Shetty, Vishal Shetty and Dinesh Shetty of Tulu Sangha Vadodara; former GBS president Manoj C Poojary; immediate past president Vishwanath G Poojary, Bardoli (Surat); chief coordinator Vasu V Suvarna; vice-president Sarita Poojary; secretary Santosh Salian; treasurer Sudesh Kottian; joint secretary Soumya Poojary; Jyoti Kotyan; and Vasanth Kundar (Ahmedabad), among others.
The dignitaries formally inaugurated the programme by performing aarti to the idols of Mother Gayatri Devi, Koti-Chennaya and Narayana Guru installed at the Sangha temple. Members of the GBS executive committee, Sangha members and Billava community members from across Gujarat, including women and children, participated in large numbers, offering prayers with devotion and seeking the blessings of Narayana Guru.