Mangaluru: The annual Lakshadeepotsava celebrations was held at Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada District from Monday November 29 to Friday December 3. As part of the celebrations, the 89th sessions of Sarvadharma Sammelana (all-religion meet) and Sahitya Sammelana (literary meet) was organised on Thursday December 2 and Friday 3.
Sarvadharma Sammelana
Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot inaugurated the Sarvadharma Sammelan. Speaking after inaugurating the meet, he said that one should follow one’s religion, and at the same time should respect others’ religion. Resorting to religious conversions taking advantage of poverty and helplessness is not acceptable, he said and added that an environment of equality and harmony may always prevail in the nation in continuation of our respectful tradition.
He expressed happiness to have visited Dharmasthala as it had been his long-pending dream. He averred that Dharmasthala is the ultimate destination wherein human development takes place and added that it is here that social transformation is brought about through ‘Bhakti’. “Every religion preaches love, and I recommend such all-religion meets should be held everywhere in the world.”
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana University Former Vice Chancellor, Bengaluru Ramachandra G. Bhat presided over the meet. In his presidential address, Bhat said that for every action in the world religion is the foundation. It is in the religion that everything is encompassed. When personal demands are brought into the religion, the religion attains narrow perspective he said and added, “it is time that intelligence is instilled in religion.”
He said education should be the medium to spread Sanskrit and Culture. Further he stressed on unity and added the essence of every religion is peace and co-existence. He called on people to show environmental concern.
In his introductory remarks, Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade said that a civilised society’s religious foundation lies in responding to its art, culture, spirituality, economy and contemporary happenings along with religious thoughts filled with forgiveness, sympathy, dedication, truth and sanity. The essence of religion lies in its practice. Hence, Satyam Vada Dharmam Chara said the Taittireeya Upanishad, he said.
He said that the Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) has 5.55 lakh self-help groups which covers 50 lakh families, who are all now self-reliant. Through our 585 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes, we have trained more than 5 lakh people who are self–employed today, he noted.
Professor and Writer Dr. Sarfraz Chandragutti from Sagar, Retired Jainology Professor Dr. M. S. Padma and Shivamogga Diocese Public Relations Officer Fr. Veeresh V. Maras were the Chief Guests. Dr. Sarfraz spoke on ‘Indian Religions’ , Dr. M. S. Padma spoke on ‘Values in and Importence of Jainism‘ and Fr. Veeresh spoke on ‘Religion and Society’s Health’.
Sahitya Sammelana
On Saturday December 4, Sahitya Sammelan was opened by Health Minister Dr. K. Sudhakar. Speaking after inaugurating the event, Sudhakar said a society where administration supports art, literature and culture that state becomes intellectually prosperous. Our state has won 8 Jnanapeetha awards as the literature of Karnataka richly reflects original ideas, and experiences with strong foundation of social perspective. Minister wished that Kannadigas should first become Indians and then should be global citizens.
Sanskrit University Former Vice Chancellor Mallepuram G. Venkatesh presided. In his presidential address, he said that the aim of the Indian literature is inner cleansing and not entertainment. It is spiritual literature that spreads knowledge, he noted.
In his introductory address, Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade said that even during peak pandemic times the books were constantly read, written and published, thus, giving impetus to all sort of literary works. I would like to appreciate media friends who took up social service activities during corona times, he added.
Author Gajanana Sharma, Author P. Chandrika and Author K. P. Putturaya were the main guests. Sharma spoke on ‘Challenges Faced while Writing Historical Literature’, Chandrika spoke on ‘Literary Awareness, Expression of Female Voice’ and Putturaya spoke on ‘Literature’s Role in Protecting Education and Culture’.
Cultural programmes followed the main event on both the days.
