Date:10/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/10/stories/2006121006560300.htm

Karnataka - Bellary

Idols to be consecrated

Staff Correspondent

TO BE INAUGURATED: A 135-ft Sai sthoopa in Anantashayanagudi near Hospet.

BELLARY: The consecration of five marble idols of Sri Shiridi Saibaba and a marble idol of Sai Ganesh at the Shiridi Saibaba Sevashram in Anantashayanagudi, near Hospet in Bellary district will be part of the three-day religious functions to be held here between December 13 and 15.

Sri Ammula Ssambasiva Rao of Sri Shiridi Saibaba Sevashram Central Trust, Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, will be consecrating the statues. He will also inaugurate the 135-ft Sri Sai Sthoopa (tower) installed in the ashram, which is spread across 1.45 acres of land, according to S. Suryaprakash, president of the ashram here.

Cost

He told presspersons at Hospet that the temples, sthoopa and dhyanamandir were being built at an estimated cost of Rs. 80 lakh.

The consecration of the idols would be performed with all religious rituals during these three days.

The religious functions would also continue up to January 1 when there would be continuous chanting of Sainaam, sathsangh, granting of life-time deeksha to the ninth batch devotees among other activities. The Hospet ashram would also be undertaking social activities including distribution of clothes, mass feeding and health check-up camps for the poor, D. Vishwaprasad, secretary, said and added that branches of the ashram would also be opened in the surrounding villages.