The Grand 150th Year of Mannagudda Gurji To Be Celebrated on November 24

November 22: This is the 150th year of Mannagudda Gurji or Deeparadhane which is dedicated to Sharavu Sri Mahaganapathy. This will be observed on November 24.
Mannagudde Gurji Seva Samiti Trust joint cultural secretary Rajendra Kalbavi, said that a new wooden chariot of Mannagudde Gurji will be offered to the Lord on the occasion. The venue of the Gurji celebrations will be decorated with 150 sky lanterns made by Lakshminarayana Rao of Boloor. Also, a troupe of children called ‘Gurji Makkala Sainya’ has been formed on the occasion. Lord Ganesha, the presiding deity will be offered 150 types of ‘alankara’.
Kalbavi said that Gynaecologist Dr Anupama Suresh will inaugurate the Bhajan programme at 5.30 pm on November 24. “Cultural programmes will be inaugurated by K Sripathi Bhat of Moodbidri, proprietor of Dhanalashmi Cashew Industries, at 6 pm. The formal programme will be held at 7.30 pm. MRPL Managing Director M Venkatesh and Karnataka Bank General Manager Nagaraja Rao B will be the chief guests. Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof P S Yadapadithaya will be felicitated on the occasion. Woodlands Hotel owner Y Ramesh Bhat will preside over the programme,” he added.
The musical CD ‘Gurji Ganapa’ comprising devotional songs on Lord Sharavu Mahaganapathy, will be released on the occasion. Jnana Aithal and troupe will present a dance recital from 6 pm to 7.30 pm and various singers will sing devotional songs from 9.30 pm, he further said. The Mahapuja of the Gurji will be held at 1 am, followed by ‘Sankeerthanopasane’ and distribution of prasadam. Kalbavi meanwhile said that the first ‘laddu prasadam’ offered to the deity will go under the hammer and put up for auction. The vegetables and fruits used to decorate the Gurji will also be auctioned, in the form of prasadam.