Mangaluru: Sharanappa Manneri Jalihal, a 65-year-old resident of Badami in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, is the caretaker of Devanga Bhavan in Mangaluru. Since August 13, 2022, he has been hoisting the national flag at the Bhavan daily at 8 a.m. and lowering it at 6 p.m., considering it a great honor.
In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative in 2022, a flagpole was erected and a khadi tricolor flag procured by Bhagawathi Trust, overseer of Bhagavati temple, Kukkadi Shri Arasu Mundathaya temple, and Devanga Bhavan. Starting on August 13, 2022, the Trust began daily flag hoisting at Devanga Bhavan.
On August 15, 2022, Sharanappa Manneri Jalihal assumed the responsibility of hoisting and lowering the flag. Dressed in traditional attire, Mr. Jalihal wears a white dhoti and a white Gandhi topi while performing the flag ceremony. He follows the proper procedure taught by Kshiti Mamloor, the managing trustee. His granddaughter, Vijayalakshmi, assists him in the task.
After Independence Day on August 15, 2023, the daily flag hoisting practice at the Devanga Bhavan will pause due to ongoing temple renovation. The Trust plans to resume the practice after completing the renovation, including the installation of a new flagpole, as confirmed by Mr. Mamloor.
To honor freedom fighters, the Trust will launch a year-long WhatsApp campaign. Starting from August 16, 2023, daily posts will be shared in four WhatsApp groups related to the Devanga community and the temple. Each day’s post will showcase different freedom fighters alongside their photographs, as announced by Mr. Mamloor.
