Udupi: On the occasion of the Virat Hindu Samajotsava, marking the golden Jubilee celebrations of Vishwa Hindu Parishat, a colourful procession was held from Jodukatte on March 9.
The procession flagged off at Jodukatte near Big Bazar and passed through Diana Circle, K M Marg, Triveni Circle, Service Bus-Stand, Hotel Kidiyoor Road, City Bus Stand, Kalsanka, Kadiyali and Culminated at MGM College Ground Indrali.
Shree Narashimashrama Swamiji of Balekudru Math flagged off the procession.
The city was adorned with saffron flags and the processions included tableaux and folk troupes. Women clad in saffron saris turned up in a large number and chanted bhajans during the procession. The procession route was decorated with banners and saffron-coloured buntings.
Former MLA Raghupati Bhat, RSS leader Shambhu Shetty, VHP and Bajrang Dal leader like Jagadish Karanth, Sharan Pumpwell, Pradeep Sharma, Gopal , Sukumar Shetty, Suprasad Shetty, Udaykumar Shetty, Yaspal Suvarna, Sunil K R, Manohar Shetty and others took part in the procession.
The district police had made arrangements to control any untoward incidents during the celebration. Tight security was deployed in front of religious centres and sensitive areas of the town.
The stage programme began with a ‘Go Puja’ by Shree Sugunedra Theertha Swamiji of Puttige Math. Suprasad Shetty, President of Vishwa Hindu Parishat, welcomed the gathering.
VHP Karnataka Regional convener Gopal Ji said that Dr R Vishal, the Deputy Commissioner, is anti-Hindu. “He is known for adopting anti-Hindu decisions to suppress the Hindus. We don’t recognize the service of Mother Teresa as our Maths and Mandirs are continuing the same service. Conversions are at the peak in the name of service. The government permits an anti-national organization to hold rallies but while Hindus organize rallies, the time is fixed by the administration. Siddaramaih is still favoring minorities for their vote bank,” he added.
Addressing the gathering Shree Vishweshatheertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said that said conversion, terrorism, cow slaughter, untouchability and corruption should be stopped. He said that the youth should come forward to build the nation with emphasis on Hinduism and the values. The seer added youths should be determined to protect the sanctity of Hinduism, which has its roots tracing back thousand years of legacy. Pointing out that conversion and terror are the major destruction ruining Hinduism, the seer added that conversion and terror should be stopped immediately.
The swamiji stressed peace is only possible with the elimination of these evils. He urged the other community men to stop extending support to terror activities. There is limit to the patience of the Hindus, he cautioned.
He urged government to extend the facilities offered to the minorities to the majorities. The government should also introduce measure to ban cow slaughter. He urged people to stop practicing untouchability.
In his keynote address, Vishwa Hindu Parishat leader Prashant Hartalkar said that barring Praveen Bhai Togadia from entering Udupi district highlights the double standard of the Siddaramaih government. “The government is trying its best to ruin the collective efforts of Hindu organizations to unite Hindus. The Siddaramaih government will soon witness downfall. Siddaramaih needs to stabilize his ‘dhoti’ first and then the government.”
“Udupi has a prominent place in the history of VHP. Every VHP leader mentions Udupi in his speech. VHP is an organization which safeguards the interests of Hindus by securing them against all the odds and evils. If you protect your religion, then it will protect you. Let us be protective Hindus who will protect their religion at every stage of life. Prominent leaders who rule the economy and nations are Hindus which shows our capabilities and hard work. If both mother and her children fail to play their respective roles effectively in building the family, then ‘Love Jihad’ will gain more prominence.”
“VHP is an organization which believes in proving their capabilities. When the world witnessed economic crisis, India was saved by our culture. We need to be progressive and powerful Hindus,” he added.
Dr M Mohan Alva, President of Swarna Jayanthi Utsava Samithi Karnataka, presided over the function. Shree Vishweshatheertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math, Shree Vishwaprasannatheertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math, Shree Laxmivaratheertha Swamiji of Shiroor Math, Shree Kalahasthendra Swamiji of Anegundi Math Katapadi, Mattu Laxman Rao, Sharan Pumpwel, Prof. M B Puranik, Jagadish Karanth, Shambhu Shetty, Krishnamoorthy Mangaluru, Manohar Shetty, Sunil K R and others were present.
