Barkur Sri Panchalingeshwara temple,
A unique example of communal harmony
It has been said that centuries ago, there were 365 temples in Barkur; a small
town situated 4 Kms, north of Brahamavara in Udupi district. Over the decades,
only a few of them have been renovated and given back their original shape and
splendors. Since then pooja on a daily basis the annual fair called Rathotsav
and all other relate religious rituals are being conducted in those renovated
temple in a grand style.
Anyway, Kotekeri Sri Panchalingeshwara is the one deity being worshipped by
every Barkurean, irrespective of caste or creed. Therefore the annual Rathotsav
of Sri Panchalingeshwara temple occupies a prominent place in the hearts of the
local people. They throng in thousands on the Rathotsav day to offer prayers and
drag the chariot (Ratha) of God through the main streets of Barkur town.
Ameer Basha saheb conducting the
Okuliyata
The Panchalingeshwara annual fair has its own special significance and noble
traditional bearing. According to some available historical evidence, local
Muslims have been actively participating in the Rathotsav programme since many
centuries. As per the ancient tradition that has been brought down even to this
day, a special invitation of the annual Rathotsav of the temple is given to two
local Muslim families which actively participate in the fair. The reliable
sources say that the two Muslim families do the duty of rightfully flagging off
the annual Rathotsav rituals. The Muslim family member team with Hindu devotees
at the temple. They feel very proud to be a part of all the ritual relates to
the Rathotsav. This is a rare case of Hindu- Muslim harmony.
On the day of the Rathotsav, Muslim are given two “Veelyas” at Valaga Mantap”;
one is in the mane of Kanchchura village and the second one is in the name of
Anjuman. In the beginning, Kanchura veelya was given to Miya Saheb and was
received by Miya Saheb who was the village assistant. After his death, the
Veelya was received by his son Police Mohammod Saheb. As he is no more now, his
grandson Ameer Basha Saheb receives it.
Anjuman Veelya was initially received by Beribailu Moideen Saheb of Kachur
village. After his death his son Dr. B Usman Saheb receives it. These Veelyas
are symbolically representative of the traditional respect shown to Muslims.
Next day to Rathotsav “Okuliyata” is performed. A Bunch of ripe bananas is hung
high over a tank of coloured water, tied with a thick tread the other end of
which is handled by a Muslim devotee so that he can keep moving it up and down.
Devotees are forced to make speculative leaps to catch the banana bunch. Ameer
Basha Saheb, plays a major role in this activity, “Okuliyata” is performed
during the wee hours of the morning. Both Hindus and Muslims take part in this
activity with great enthusiasm. This has become very popular for all the humor
embedded in it.
That Muslim have been, since many centuries, an integral part of a Hindu temple
annual fair is undoubtedly a rare thing to reckon with in the whole gamut of
human relations. One should really appreciate the temple management and the
devotees for providing a divine plat form for this gorgeous tradition of Hindu-
Muslim harmony. Let us hope it continues through posterity.
- Rama Bhat,
Sajangadde
Fifth Place for Barkur Boy in the Asian Power Lifting
Roshan Gabriel Lobo, son of Charles Lobo and Philomena Lobo from Barkur
represented India in the Asian Power Lifting Championship held at the Ulan
Bator, capital of Mangolia, where candidates from 18 Asian countries
participated.
Roshan competed in the 85 KG category and lifted 215 KG in Squat, Dead lift 230
KG and 95 KG in Bench press and obtained 5th place in the champion
ship. He achieved this feat by a training of less than three months which is
commendable. Roshan became a overnight hero at Rathnagiri where he works
presently with all the local news papers flashing this news.
Lobo, a past student of Milagres College, Kallianpur, was chosen by the Asian
Power Lifting Association, after securing first place at the national level
competition organized by the Indian Power Lifting Association. He has also been
selected for the National Level Soft Ball Competition to play for Maharashtra.
He had won silver medals in the weight lifting competitions held during the year
2008-09 in Goa and also in 2004-05 at the Mangalore University level, in Mulki.
He has also represented Udupi district in weight lifting competitions and won
medals. He had taken part in the state level ball badminton competition too on
behalf of Udupi district.
A degree holder in commerce, Roshan Lobo works for Murzello Engineering Services
Pvt. Ltd, at Rathnagiri Goa.
Team barkuronline.com congratulate Roshan for his rare achievement and wishes
him all the best in the future endeavors.
Voters and Leaders meet at Barkur
A program of thanks giving to all the voters of Barkur and wishing the winners
of the recently held Grama Panchayath elections was held at Barkur which was
attended by around 1300 people.
MLA Haladi Shrinivas Shetty presided over the function and MLC Kota Shrinivas
Poojary was the chief guest.
Retired Principal B. Seetharama Shetty congratulated the winners and B.
Shantharama Shetty unveiled the future plans of Barkur Panchayath and regarding
Suvarna Grama Yojane for Barkur. Both the MLA and MLC extended their full
support for the plans.
There was a discussion regarding water problems in Barkur and the leaders
assured to be solved by next March. They also promised the construction of new
roads.
Dolphy D’Lima welcomed the gathering and Sudhakar Master conducted the
proceedings.
A sumptuous dinner was arranged was enjoyed by all the attendees.
News n Pics : Dr.Manoj M D’Lima
B. Shantharam Shetty to lead
Barkur Grama Panchayath
The team led by Shri B.Shantharam Shetty
is all set to create history in the Barkur – (Hosala
- Kachhur) Village Panchayat.
The success
story begun in early 1978, when the youthful Shetty occupied the seat of
President of newly shaped Barkur – Hanehalli (comprising three Villages viz.
Hosala, Kachhur & Hanehalli) and since then no turning back. Later Hanehalli was
segregated and have its own Punchayat Board.
Irrespective of
any political party sweeping the polls elsewhere in the neighborhood, it was
always Mr. Shetty and his Team got elected in majority, in Barkur. The recently
concluded election to Punchayat on 8th May, 2010, also proved his
authority. As many as twelve out of thirteen members are his men, declared
elected on 18th May, 2010.
To the best of
our memory, for the last 32 years, either he chaired the Grama or Mandal
Panchayat or his chosen men are at the helm - as the law of the land compelling
to reservations of the posts to woman / backward caste category just couple of
times.
Though the
local body elections are not party based contest, Shantarama Shetty was a
recognized leader in Janata Parivar in 80’s. When BJP shown signs of its strong
presence in the undivided D.K & Udupi districts, in 90’s, his attachment to
saffron brigade was more visible and for a term he was the President of the
Block BJP unit of Brahmmavara. And also served as member of Taluk Panchayat.
After late
Yajna Narayana Rao
who was the sitting President, when he breathed his last, for
record number of years, till 1978, now this credit goes to Shri. B. Shantarama
Shetty.
What is
interesting to note here is nothing but his personal rapport with the citizens,
helpful nature in any emergencies, and tact in resolving local issues, prudence
in the choice of candidates, voluntary participation in social and cultural
events held in locality are some of the secrets of his perennial success over
the last three decades.
We at Barkur-on-line
Team, take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Shetty and his Team. Under his
dynamic leadership let the pending Roads / Drinking water / improvement of lakes
/ preservation of historical monuments take a boost in coming days. Let the
Central / State Govt. projects marked for the welfare of villages / town be
implemented……. and fruits of the development reach to all irrespective of caste,
religion or party affiliation.
On behalf of
Barkur-on-line Team and ICYM Barkur Ex-Members Association,
P. Archibald
Furtado – Muscat, 20/05/2010.
Obituary
Veronica D'Silva nee Sequeira
(75), Hyderabad (originally from Barkur, Udupi district), wife of Borges D'Silva,
mother of Noel / Loretta, Adolf / Mabel, Ronald / Matilda, Peter, Charles /
Veera & Herman / Mary, passed away on Friday, May 14, 2010.
Funeral on Saturday, May 15 at
3.00 pm in St Joseph's Cathedral, Gunfoundry, Hyderabad.
Contact: Adolf D'Silva : +91 90007
87541
First Holy Communion at Barkur
Church
Five tiny tots from Barkur parish
received their first holy communion at the church of St.Peter on 2nd May 2010.
Pics: Stephen @ Mayura Studio,
Barkur
One more feather into the hat of Dr.Fernandes
Very recently Dr. Gabriel
Fernandes of Barkur, now a renowned Scientist at USA has been notified by the
Department of Defense of USA that he will be receiving soon $ 75000 for a small
Concept grant proposal he submitted for funding to carry out pilot studies in
the area of Breast cancer in mice. Each year Department of Defense funds grants
in areas of Breast cancer, Prostate cancer and Ovarian cancer etc.
Breast cancer is the second
leading cause of cancer death in women and the most common cancer among American
women after skin cancer. A close link has been established, through scientific
studies, between breast cancer and obesity among postmenopausal women. The
Western diet chiefly comprises vegetable oils, such as corn oil, rich in omega-6
fatty acids which are found to be cancer promoting. On the other hand, omega-3
fatty acids found in fish oil (FO) have been found beneficial in various disease
conditions particularly in heart disease and cancer. While the early diagnosis
of breast cancer is curable, late stage metastatic breast cancer is associated
with several complications including increased bone pain due to the spread of
breast cancer to regions of bones and has no permanent cure yet. This leads to
poor quality of life and increased rates of morbidity and mortality. We
hypothesize that supplementing the diet with concentrated omega-3 fatty acids
and minimizing the use of omega-6 fatty acids may prevent the spread of the
breast cancer cells to bone and thus reduce the associated pain symptoms. FO is
a very rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and our study will use diets
containing concentrated, FDA approved FO (Lovaza®,
GlaxoSmithKline) or one of its components docosahexaenoic acid or conjugated
linoleic acid to study their effect on fat cells and on breast cancer induced
bone metastasis and the resultant pain in experimental laboratory animals such
as mice.
Although these grants are small
yet the competition is quite fierce, out of 1300 small grants submitted only 64
were funded in this category. There are also several larger grants funded to
study disease in cancer patients. Dr. fernandes plans soon to submit a larger
grant after completing some pilot studies. In recent years Dr. Fernandes has
received NIH funding to study the role of Fish oil on Osteoporosis, kidney
disease and aging etc in mice. He credits his research for his early upbringing
near the River and exposure to catching and eating fish very often which he
finds it very healthy to maintain good health.
If anyone is interested in
receiving any reprints on his work are welcome to send him a email
fernandes@uthscsa.edu
Click here to read more on
Dr.Fernandes
Barkur Habba, news in pics.
Pics: Dr.Manoj D'Lima
Click here for Photo Album
Barkur Car street in a festive
mood
Preparations for the forth coming
Rathothsava are in full swing at Barkur. This time thing turned out be in a
different way. A new Nasik Band set played by the youth of Barkur itself gave
off a start on 19th March. Its a team youth from Badanagoli, Barkur and playing
of the band is so good that many people joined dancing at Kalchappara.
Car street wore a festive look
with full of lights and banners all over. We expect the fantastic Rathothsava
this year and thank Dr.Manoj for the pictures and news and look forward for more
news and photographs.
'Konkan
Kogul' Wilfy Rebimbus (67) Ceases to Sing
The golden era of Konkani music
came to an end with Konkani's greatest talent, 'Konkan Kogul' Wilfy Rebimbus
breathed his last at Fr Muller Hospital here on March 9, 2010 at 11.15am, IST .
The news come as a rude shock to people of Coastal Karnataka all over the world
irrespective of the caste, creed, language and religion for the legend has left
his lasting impression in their hearts with his melifluous voice. His
compositions not only in Konkani, but Tulu too are cherished by millions
worldwide.
He was ailing from lung cancer
since past one year, but for a while hopes were revived of his survival after
successful surgery in September 2009. However, his health deteriorated a week
ago and was admitted to the Fr Muller Hospital Hospital here. A team of doctors
tried their best to keep WIlfy alive, but he breathed his last.
His wife Meena Rebimbus, a singing
legend herself, daughtrer Veena and son Vishwas along with his close family
members, members of United Youngster Association Leslie Rego and others were
with him during his last moments.
Wilfy, who would have turned 68 on
April 2 this year, was a multi-faceted and versatile personality. Known for his
charming and affable nature, he was a gifted music composer, playwright and
short story writer. He was a household name among all Konkani Catholics.
Born in Mangalore in a poor
family, he came up in life the hard way and started composing and singing
Konkani songs at the young age of 14. By 15, he had written his first Konkani
play, ``Poishyamcho Somvsaar,’’ and got it staged through the St Joseph’s
Natak Sabha in Mangalore.
He has contributed and enriched
the Konkani music world for over 50 years composing over 3,000 songs, 500 stage
shows and conducted as many as 248 musical nites in Mangalore and different
parts of Karnataka and even abroad besides publishing 9 volumes of Song Books.
In addition, he had brought out a book, ``Kogul Gaaithaa,’’ comprising 40
volumes in four editions, 40 highly popular music audio cassettes besides six
volumes of devotional and one instrumental album. He has written three Konkani
musical plays, Hazaar Umaalyamche Kazaar, Vechik Pooth and Mother Teresa.
He has also composed songs and
written stories for Konkani movies, Mog ani Moipas, Bogsaane, Kaazaara Upraanth
and Paadri besides writing the story for the Konkani film, Tisri Cheet.He was
showered with several awards including the Karnataka Government’s prestigious
Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Award, Sandesha and
DaijiDubai Puraskar Awards.
Bangalore's FKCA Award was the
last award conferred on him, which was bestowed on him on Jan 31, 2010. His son
Vishwas received the award on his behalf as he could not attend the programme
due to his ill health.
Mangalore Konkans Dubai, recently
initiated a movement to seek national honour for this Konkani singer, as his
contribution was worth Padmashree or Padmabhushan awards in the least.
Funeral details will be announced
later
Read about Wilfy Rebimbus in Archie's Corner Click here
News Courtesy :
www.daijiworld.com
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