mangalore today

Mangaluru: Dongerkery ‘Appu Bhat’ no more


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, October 3, 2019: Vedamurthy Dongerkery Ramachandra Janaradhan Bhat (75) passed away late last night (Wednesday, October 2) following brief illness. He was a well known priest of Shree Ganapathi Matt, Dongerkery and was famous as a practitioner of traditional astrology using cowrie shells. He was popularly known as ‘Appa Bhat’.


Ramachandra Ja...

 

He reportedly had undergone surgery at a private hospital sometime back for removal of gallstones and had been admitted back to hospital last night after he fell ill. He passed away shortly before midnight. He is survived by his wife Anuradha, one brother Vasanth Bhat and two sisters. His one brother and a sister had predeceased him.

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 is expected to be performed on Thursday afternoon after 4.00 pm. His mortal remains will be kept for paying last respects at Shree Ganapathi Matt, Dongerkerry after 2.00 p.m. and the last rites will be followed by cremation at Boloor crematorium.