Mangaluru: Dongerkery ‘Appu Bhat’ no more

coastaldigest.com news network

October 3, 2019

Mangalore, Oct 3: Vedamurthy Dongerkery Ramachandra Janaradhan Bhat (77) (popularly called ‘Appa Bhat’) passed away on Wednesday, October 2 at 10.30 p.m. following heart attack. He was a resident of Dongerkery. He was a well known Pradhana Arachaka of Shree Ganapathi Matt, Dongerkery and was famous as a practitioner of traditional astrology using cowrie shells.

He had undergone surgery at a private hospital sometime back for removal of gallstones and had been ill for some time. He is survived by his wife Anuradha, one brother Vasanth Bhat and two sisters. His one brother and a sister had predeceased him.

He was born on 25.5.1943 and has been serving as a priest for almost 60 years. He practiced traditional cowrie shell astrology (Balme), which was a hereditary practice in his family, for the last 43 years and he was known as ‘Balme Bhat’.

He was a member of the management committee of Srinivas Patashala, VT Road. He has also served as Pradhana Arachaka of Sri Venkatramana Teemple, Car Street. He performed the pratistapana of granite Ganapathi idol (Sheela Ganapathi) at Mahamayee Temple, Car Street.

His father Vedamurthy Janaradhan Bhat had opened the doors of his family shrine Shree Ganapathi Matt, Dongerkery to the public with wide ranging spiritual activities. Shree Ganapathi Matt, Dongerkery is known for its annual Ganesh Chathurthi Festival when large crowds throng to offer worship. The 10-day event, which is approaching his 50th year, is also one of the longest periods of observing Ganeshotsava festival in entire Karnataka and perhaps India.

This festival is popular for the delicious daily lunch provided to the visiting devotees and also for the ‘Ranga Pooja’ prayers offered to the deity every night. Vedamurthy Ramachandra Bhat continued this tradition and took it greater heights. His personal popularity with the devotees, especially the youth, was very great.

His funeral was performed on Thursday afternoon after 5.00 pm at Boloor crematorium.

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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

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