Sonia Inaugurates Centenary Celebrations of Gokarnanatha Temple, Kudroli

Sonia Inaugurates Centenary Celebrations of Gokarnanatha Temple, Kudroli

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 19, 2012: The centenary celebrations of Shree Gokarnanatha Temple, Kudroli, Mangalore was inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi, AICC President and UPA Chairperson at 6.30 pm on Thursday October 18, 2012. Sonia Gandhi also inaugurated the 22nd edition of Kudroli Dasara celebrations  at the Temple.

 

 

 

 

 

After unveiling the Centenary display Sonia handed over the Billawa community flag to H S Sairam, President of the Temple and launched the celebrations formally. Speaking on the occasion , Sonia said, “ Let us re-dedicate ourselves to the values  and ideals of Saint Sri Narayana Guru who propagated unity in diversity.”  "His philosophy of ’one caste, one religion and one god’ is still valid”, she added

Stressing on the need to uphold secular ideologies, Sonia Gandhi said that it was the duty of every citizen to curb the anti-social forces and thwart attempts disturb the social fabric of the nation. Emphasizing on the need to propagate ideas of humanity, Sonia expressed concern over the increasing anti-social elements which are trying to break the secular system in India.

 

 

“It is our sacred duty to protect our glorious secular heritage, but nothing should be taken for granted. We all should stand up against those forces which are trying to disturb the secular heritage of India,” Sonia Gandhi said.

"His philosophy of ’one caste, one religion and one god’ is still present amongst us, and Kudroli Temple has preserved this philosophy with great sanctity, which attracts people from all corners. Kudroli Temple is the symbol of social harmony," she said.

"Ours is a great country, which respects all cultures, castes and religions. There is social unity. Dakshina Kannada district is famous for being multi-lingual, multi-cultural, and multi-caste. It is our sacred duty to preserve this tolerance," she added.

 

 

 

 

 

Sonia further spoke on Sri Narayana Guru and said that he established many educational institutions and that people of all faiths follow him."Let us re-dedicate ourselves to this place," she declared.

She also expressed her happiness for getting an opportunity to visit Kudroli temple. “Twenty one years ago, three months before his death, my husband late Rajiv Gandhi had visited the temple to inaugurate the renovated temple. Hence, I consider it as a privilege to visit this temple and this visit is personally special for me,”

Addressing the gathering, an elated Janardhan Poojary, Managing trustee of the Temple, said, "I am the luckiest person today, being here with Madam Gandhi. I have no words to express my joy." Recalling the Temple’s connection with the Gandhi family he said, "Earlier Rajiv Gandhi had visited Kudroli Temple to inaugurate it on February 8, 1991, after its renovation. Now we have Sonia Gandhi inaugurating the centenary celebrations.

Janardhan Poojary praised the Gandhi-Nehru family and their contributions to the country. "Rajiv Gandhi had dedicated his entire life to the nation" he added. "Today is a great day in the history of Kudroli Temple, a day I can never forget," he said.

Earlier, Sonia offered puja in the Temple and inaugurated the Dasara festivities in the hall where the Navadurge idols are installed. She was honoured with a shawl. Janardhan Poojary presented an idol of Radha-Krishna to Sonia Gandhi on the occasion.

Oscar Fernandes and his wife Blossom, K H Muniyappa, Union Minister for Railways, Siddaramaiah, State opposition leader, J P Suvarna, Ramesh Kumar, Urmila Ramesh Kumar and others were present.