Karnataka - Bangalore

Programmes to mark seer’s birthday

BANGALORE: A series of programmes has been arranged for the 64th birthday celebrations of the seer of Aadichunchanagiri Math, Balagangadharanatha Swamiji, in the city on Saturday. The programmes include naming the Sirsi Circle flyover after the swamiji.

Announcing the programmes, former Minister V. Somanna stated in a press conference that the swamiji will also be given a public reception on behalf of the former members of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on that day. The Mahadwaras, which have been built on both sides of the flyover, will also be unveiled on that day. Hostels for girls and working women at Vijayanagar, Hampinagar and Cottonpet, built by the math, will also be inaugurated.

At the public reception, religious heads including the swamiji of Siddaganga Math, Shivakumara Mahaswamy; Jagadguru Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji of Suttur Math, and Sureshwarananda swamiji of Gosayi Math will take part. Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will inaugurate the hostels. Governor Rameshwar Thakur will participate on the occasion.

Mr. Somanna said the Sirsi Circle flyover will be extended up to Kengeri via Nayandahalli at a cost of Rs. 500 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for which clearance has already been secured from the government, he added. The flyover will be 9.7 km-long when it is completed, he said. Six acres of land in M.C. Layout in Vijayanagar has been handed over to BBMP by the Bangalore Development Authority and there are plans to build an indoor stadium which will be named after the swamiji, he added.

The reception committee of the celebration has also decided to appeal to the Government of Karnataka to award the ‘Karnataka Rathna’ to Balagangadharanatha Swamiji.

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