Mass weddings at Barkur

History was made in Barkur as record number of couples, 59 of them to be precise, tied knots simultaneously in first ever mass wedding ceremony at Barkur organized by the Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane, Udupi at Shri Kulamahasthree Amma temple, Bennekudru.

“The aim is to have simple marriage ceremony without dowry, as 80 percent people of the Mogaveera community are poor and middle class. Many of them spend lavishly on weddings and get trapped in loans and other financial difficulties. Many of the girls in the community are not getting married because of the financial constrains. This is the reason the association came up with the idea of mass weddings to promote and popularize simple weddings” says Satheesh Amin, President of the association.

Satheesh Amin, Prakash Suvarna and Chandresh Pithrodi

Not only preaching, he himself and two other office bearers of the association Prakash Suvarna, General Secretary, Chandresh Pithrodi, Cultural Secretary tied the knots today along with other couples setting examples for others to follow.

The preparations were going on from the last 3 months and 59 couples from many places like Bangalore, Mumbai and various walks of life like Fishermen, Businessmen and others gathered and got married. The organizers left no stone unturned to make this event a huge success which was evident in the well organized program.

A wedding buffet was arranged for over 25000 people and more than 350 cooks prepared the goodies. Over 1000 volunteers looked after the guests and orderliness. All the brides were given Gold Mangalasoothra or Karimani of 20 grams each donated by many generous people.

MLA, Jayaprakash Hegde, Ex.M.P., Vinaya Kumar Sorake, Karnataka Bank, Syndicate Bank Senior Officials, Government officials , entrepreneurs and  many other dignitaries attended the function.

G.Shankar

Industrialist G.Shankar of Shamili has guided the association from the beginning and supported all the activities. The association has plans to conduct such types of programs every year.

The newly constructed Outer Ring Road from the Bennekudru Bridge to the temple alongside the river helped a lot to ease the vehicular traffic which otherwise would have created chaos like last time in December during Bennekudru festival.

Finally a Resort At Barkur!

A common complaint about Barkur was that there is no proper accommodation facility available for the visitors or tourists. Options were to stay at a relative’s place or rent accommodation at Udupi, Brahamavar etc.

Gone are those days, as now Barkur boasts of a full pledged resort with luxurious rooms available for nominal rent.

V.S. Hegde an entrepreneur from Uddalgudde Barkur has just done that. Owning a chain of restaurants, lodges, resorts and hotels elsewhere, it was his way of contribution to develop Barkur as a tourist destination.

Sankammathayi Resorts recently started functioning at Uddalgudde, Barkur, next to Government College and a stones throw from the Barkur Railway Station. Located in a picturesque 2 and a half acre of lush green lawn, it has a Function Hall for a capacity of 700 people, a dining hall for 300 people, full pledged kitchen for both vegetarian and non vegetarian cuisines, set amidst tall coconut trees.

There are 4 Air conditioned double rooms, 3 non AC double rooms and 3 single rooms with attached bath and cable television facilities  available and the rent starts from a mere Rs.200!

Adding its bit to the conservation of water, a rain water harvesting system is also adopted at the resort and it boasts of a 55000 liter capacity water harvesting tank which is first of its kind in the region.

The auditorium roof is equipped with a modern sprinkler cooling system to keep the cool ambience inside the auditorium and harvested rain water will be used for the purpose.

Watch out our website for the 'Rags to Riches' story of S.V. Hegde...

News Kishoo Pics :Eric Soans

Janashakthi Samavesha

Janashakthi Samavesha was organised at Barkur by the Janajagrathi Vedike Okkoota on the occasion of their anniversary. The function was organized opposite the new Petrol Station at Barkur and 3 prominent personalities were felicitated in recognition with their relentless service offered to the society.

Ex –Lokayuktha, Retd. Justice Venkatachala presided over the function. Secretary of the Okkoota, Balachandra Shetty presented the introductory speech. Ex Education Minister H.G. Govindegowda inaugurated the Samavesha.

Durgappa Gudikara, Beluvayi Sadananda Shetty and Shirthadi William Pinto were felicitated with traditional head gear, shawla, mementos and garlands for their outstanding excellence in their fields.

ASN Hebbar, Ex President, Jilla Sahithya Parishath, Praveen Kumar Shetty, President, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, K.C. Rajesh, Journalist, Shivananda Shetty, Bangalore District President, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Sathish Poojari, Member, Udupi Taluk Panchayath, Ramananda Shetty, Ullas Shetty and others present on the stage.

Sudhakar Master conducted the proceedings. Githanjali Orchestra from Thrikere presented the entertainment programme.

Obituary

Rosario Quadras (93) of Bennekudru, Barkur, Udupi, passed away on April 21. Funeral cortege leaves residence for St Peter's Church, Barkur at 3-00 pm on Sunday, April 22.
Phone + 91 820 2587359
He is survived by wife, four sons and four daughters.

Bridge inaugurated at Moodahadu

The new bridge connecting the Moodahadu Kudru to Moodahadu main land was inaugurated on Sunday, 15^th April 2007.

Constructed under the scheme of Fisheries department at a cost of Rs.30 lakhs, the new bridge has replaced the old hanging bridge that was constructed some years back by the enthusiastic NSS volunteers of Karanataka Regional Engineering College , Surathkal, now known as National Institute of Technology.

The bridge was inaugurated in a simple ceremony organized by the villagers of Moodahadu by the Veteran Kudru resident V.L. Roche in the presence of  K.Jayaprakash Hegde, MLA, who was instrumental in getting the bridge sanctioned for the village and looked after the completion of the project.

Speaking of the occasion, Mr.Roche dug into the juicy past of the village recollecting the olden days. Jayaprakash Hegde promised the completion within one year of another bridge connecting Bennekudru to Moodahadu Kudru  thus forming a direct road connection between Barkur and Sasthan via Bennekudru. He also highlighted  a permanent vehicular bridge across the Haml Canal which is under construction.

Prathap Shetty, President, Sasthan Co-Operative Society, Urban D’Souza, Richard D’Souza, Wilfred Roche, Thomas Picardo and others were present on the occasion.

K.Jayaprakash Hegde gently rejected the felicitation offered by the villagers saying that he was only doing his duty.

Alwyn Andrade, President, Sanketha Yuvaka Mandala, and Ex-member of the Sasthana Grama Panchayath welcomed the gathering, proposed the vote of thanks and conducted the proceedings.

News & Pics : Stephen Andrade

Antony bags a prize in Poetry Competition

Our regular contributor, Antony Prakash D'Souza, (Antony, Barkur) has won a Consolation prize in "Daaiz Literary competition-2006" for his Konkanni poem "kaat tutcho vel".

Antony Prakash, is elder son of Xavier and Agnes D'Souza, Moodahadu Kudru. He is working for CG-Smith software, Bangalore. He is now on deputation at Siemens Automotive, Singapore with his wife Cynthia and son Aaron.

His articles have been published in periodicals like Rakhno, Mithr, Sevak and in websites like www.kavitaa.com, www.daaiz.com, www.maibhas.com.

For further details click this: http://www.daaiz.com/special/dss2006.asp 

Our readers can enjoy many of Antony's articles in our Kannada Section.

Weeklong festivities at Barkur.

Soma kshthriya Community of Barkur have believed, adored and prayed their Kula Deva, Shri Venugopalaksrihna Deva in Moodukeri from years together. And now the old temple has been renovated at a cost of Rs. 1.2 crore and the festivities are on for the grand inauguration and Bhrahma Kumbhashikha from 15^th April at Barkur.

The weeklong festival took off on Sunday with the Hore Kanike and the inauguration of the Welcome Arch or Swagatha Gopura, newly constructed near the National Pre University College, opposite to the Barkur Fort.

All the devotees from the Somakshthriya Community from Padubidri to Baindoor gathered at Gandhi Maidan, near All India Radio Station at Brahmavar and the Hore Kanike procession started from there with the participation of a variety of vehicles. The procession was received and flagged off officially near the Panchalingeshwara Temple at Barkur by the President of Barkur Grama Panchyath Mr. Shantharama Shetty. The traditional Keelu Kudure, Thattiraya, Yakshagana, Chende and other tableaus gave a colorful tinge to the procession which reached the Moodukeri temple.

The Honorary President of the Renovation Committee B.A. Narasimhamoorthi inaugurated the Welcome Arch.

President of the Reception Committee and the owner of the Hotel Vaibhav, B.S.Manjunath, K.Gopal, President, Renovation Committee, K.J. Ganiga, Retired GM of Syndicate Bank, Prakash Venkataramana, B.Shankar, Kuthpadi Ananda Ganiga and others were present at the occasion.

Various religious rituals are scheduled for the week and lots of cultural programs are on the plans for each day evening and are going on full swing and are appreciated and enjoyed by the public.

Maha Anna Santharpane is scheduled on 20^th April in the presence of Shri Shri Shri Vishwapriya Shipada of Adamaru Mutth, Udupi.

K.Jayaprakash Hegde, MLA and Dr.V.S.Acharaya, Minister for Medical Education and District Care Taker Minister for Udupi District will be present at the religious meeting on that day evening along with other dignitaries.

News Kishoo Pics :Eric Soans

Herbert Joseph Menezes shines in Dubai

Herbert Joseph Menezes of Barkur has been appointed as the Lay Minister at the Church of St.Mary’s in Dubai. He was inducted along with few others and the first one from Barkur to get this opportunity at Dubai.

Hailing from Kudru village in Barkur, Herbert is the only son of Late Walter and Jessie Menezes.

Talented as he is, he has served as the President of CYM Barkur, Secretary of CYM Kallianpur Varado and was the founder secretary of  Karaval Milan, a very popular association of Kundapur and Kalianpur Varado in Dubai. He is associated with ‘The Expressions’, a cultural group well known for its popular cultural festivities right from its foundation and acted in many skits and plays in native place as well as is in Dubai.

Herbert is also the President of Jesus Mary Joseph Konkani Charismatic prayer group in the Church of St.Mary’s in Dubai and also actively involved with St.Mary’s Konkanni Community (SMKC, Dubai).

Barkuronline is proud of this son of Barkur and wish him all the best and success in his endeavors.

News :Kishoo

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