The consecration ceremony and the inaugural function of the newly constructed tower of the main entrance of Siddharudha Mutt here will be held here on January 7 and 8.
Reception committee president Sanganabasappa N. Shettar told presspersons here on Thursday that it would be a major event in the history of the mutt having a large following in and outside the State.
The consecration ceremony will be held on January 7. This programme will be purely religious in nature. The main component of this event will be the procession of the idols of Sri Siddharudha and Sri Gurunatharudha. These idols will be carried in a silver palanquin, accompanied by elephants. The procession will begin from Jadisiddha Ashram in Ganesh Pet at 8 a.m. and pass through the main entrance. The consecration ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Heads of various religious institutions will participate in this programme, he said.
On January 8, a public function will be held on the mutt premises. Judge of the High Court of Karnataka Ashok Hinchigeri will inaugurate the programme. Minister in-charge of the district Vinay Kulkarni will flag off the Ambari procession. Speaker K.B. Koliwad, Small Scale Industries Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, Belagavi Lok Sabha member Suresh Angadi, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar and others will take part in the programme. The public function will be followed by mass feeding where nearly 40,000 people are expected, he added.
Airini Holemath seer Basavaraja Deshikendra Swami, who was instrumental in the construction of the new tower, will lead the programmes on both days. The new tower has been constructed at an estimated cost of ₹ 1 crore and nearly 100 workers have been engaged for this work. The new tower has been painted colourfully.
