News : Anand Kumar Barkur Visuals : Subhanu, Barkur
The 20th Annual Public Ganesha Festival organized by Shettigar Industries at Ranganakere, Barkuru, concluded successfully with a three-day celebration from August 27-29, 2025.
Religious Assembly and Awards Ceremony
The main religious assembly was held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 9:00 PM, inaugurated by Sri Anand C. Kundar, founder of Geetananda Foundation, Kota. The event was presided over by Sri B. Umesh Acharya, President of the Public Ganesha Festival Committee.
Distinguished guests included:
- Sri B. Shantaram Shetty, President of Sri Panchalingeshwara Temple Festival Committee, Barkuru
- Sri Gopinath Kamath from Chittara Cashews Group, Vandaru
- Sri Ravi Shettigar, President of Undivided Dakshina Kannada District Padmashali Mahasabha, Mangaluru
- Sri Pramod Mandarti from Namaste Bharat Trust
- Sri Raja Ram Shetty, Proprietor of Hotel Ashraya, Brahmavara
Recognition and Awards
The festival honored achievers from various fields with talent awards and scholarships:
Community Service Recognition:
- Sri Eshwar Malpe (social worker and swimming expert)
- Srimati Tanula Tarun from Hos Belaku Seva Trust, Kauduru Bailuru
Cultural Excellence Awards:
- Sri Hiriyanna Shettigar, Mandarti (Bharatiya Yakshagana Ratna National Award recipient)
- Sri Vivekananda Shettigar, Basruru (Karunada Kalpavriksha National Award recipient)
- Sri Udayakumar Hosal (Bhagavatar, Udupi District Rajyotsava Award recipient)
- Sri Sudhakar Vakwadi, Editor of Kannada Karavali
- Sri Rajesh Shanubhog, Barkuru (renowned singer, narrator, YouTube creator, and music teacher)
- Sri Anand Kumar, Barkuru (Facebook administrator for Nammuru Barkuru)
- Sri Manjunath Pujari from Shaurya Team, Barkuru
- Sri Babu Nayik, Kudli
The committee also felicitated Sri Lokayya Shettigar and his wife for completing 25 years of harmonious married life.
Educational Support Initiative
Shettigar Industries provided educational scholarships to 10 underprivileged students as part of their social responsibility program.
Festival Highlights
The celebration featured various religious and cultural programs, community feasts (anna santarpane), and concluded with a spectacular procession on August 29, 2025. The procession began from Barkuru Batte Vinayaka Temple and proceeded to Ranganakere Ratnagarbha Ganapati Temple, featuring colorful tableaux, devotional groups, and participation from various organizations.
The immersion ceremony (jal stambhana) took place at the Ranganakere Sri Ratnagarbha Ganapati Temple pond, with assistance from Mogaveera Youth Association members.
The festival was expertly compered by scholar Damodar Sharma, Barkuru, while Sri Satish S. Amin delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the organizing committee.
The organizers expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed directly and indirectly to making the 20th Annual Public Ganesha Festival a grand success.
