Idiga community to have first pontiff on March 19

Bangalore, Mar 12 (UNI) Arya Sri Renukananda Swamiji will be appointed as the first pontiff of the Idiga community, numbering around 50 lakh in Karnataka, at a colourful ceremony in Solur, about 25 km from here on March 19.

Talking to newspersons here last night, Arya Idiga Sangha Vice-President J P Narayanaswamy said the religious ceremony would be inaugurated by former Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna.

He said the community people were backward in social, economical and educational fronts.

A mutt would be established in a sprawling 14 acres land in Solur to ensure free education and industrial training centres to the community children.

A temple of the Goddess Renuka Yellamma Deviu, worshipped by the community, would also be constructed in the same place, he said.

Prominent leaders from the community, including former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, Prakashananda Swamiji from Sivagiri Mutt, Kerala, former Union Minister B Janardhana Poojari and Congress General Secretary B K Hariprasad, would also attend the programme, he added.

UNI SR MSP DS SW RN1702