Udupi: The Udupi District Billava Yuva Vedike will organise a ‘Guru Sandesh Samadhi Jatha’ and a state-level speech competition on August 30 to mark the 172nd birth anniversary of Sri Narayana Guru Swamiji.
The programmes will be held at Bannanje Billavara Seva Sangha, with preparations underway for the participation of members and the public from across the district and other parts of Karnataka.
Vedike president Praveen M Poojary announced the programme during a press conference held on Wednesday.
Speech competition at Narayana Guru Auditorium
According to Praveen M Poojary, the state-level speech competition will be inaugurated at 9.30 am at the Narayana Guru Auditorium.
Participants from different parts of Karnataka are expected to take part in the competition, which has been organised as part of the birth anniversary celebrations.
The competition is intended to provide a platform for participants to speak on the life, teachings and social message of Sri Narayana Guru.
The prize distribution ceremony will be held at 1 pm.
Following the prize distribution, the Guru Sandesh Harmoni Jatha will be formally launched.
Jatha to cover several coastal areas
The procession will begin from Bannanje Billavara Seva Sangha and travel through several important locations in Udupi district and along the coastal belt.
The proposed route includes SP Office Road, Ambalapady Junction, Kinnimulki, Balaipade, Udyavar, Katapady, Kaup, Mulur, Uchchila, Padubidri and Hejamady.
The procession will conclude at Sri Vishwanath constituency in Katapady, according to the organisers.
The organisers said the jatha is being conducted to spread the message and ideals associated with Sri Narayana Guru among the public.
The route covering several towns and junctions is expected to bring the programme to the attention of people across the region.
Celebrating Narayana Guru’s social message
Sri Narayana Guru is widely remembered for his contribution to social reform and his efforts towards equality, education and the upliftment of socially disadvantaged communities.
His teachings have continued to influence social and community organisations in Kerala and Karnataka, particularly among communities that have drawn inspiration from his message of social equality and human dignity.
The Billava Yuva Vedike has organised the August 30 programme as an opportunity to commemorate his birth anniversary through cultural, educational and community activities.
The speech competition is expected to focus attention on the relevance of his teachings, while the jatha will take his message to a wider audience across the coastal region.
Community participation expected
The organisers are making arrangements for the day’s programmes at Bannanje and along the procession route.
The event is expected to bring together members of the Billava community, community leaders, youth representatives and others interested in the teachings and social reform legacy of Sri Narayana Guru.
The organisers have appealed to members of the public and community representatives to participate in the programmes and make the celebrations successful.
The procession will travel through a number of busy locations, making coordination and traffic management important during the event.
Further details regarding arrangements and participation are expected to be communicated by the organisers ahead of August 30.
Office-bearers attend press conference
Vedike honorary president Diwakar Sanil, vice presidents Mahesh Kumar and Vijaya Kotian, and honorary advisor Sudhakar D Amin were present at the press conference.
The office-bearers outlined the programme and highlighted the significance of organising the events to commemorate the 172nd birth anniversary of Sri Narayana Guru.
With the speech competition scheduled in the morning and the procession later in the day, the organisers have planned a full-day programme combining an educational event with a community procession.
The celebrations are expected to underline the continuing relevance of Sri Narayana Guru’s message and provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on his contribution to social reform.