Idiga community to have its pontiff on March 19

Bangalore, Mar 12 (UNI) Idiga community, numbering around 50 lakhs in Karnataka, will have its first pontiff Arya Sri Renukananda Swamiji, to be anointed at a colourful ceremony on March 19.

Briefing newsmen last night, Arya Idiga Sangha Vice President J P Narayanaswamy said religious homas and cultural programmes precede the anointing ceremony to be inaugurated by former Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna at Solur, 25 kilometres from here. Arya Sri Renukananda Swamiji would be coronated as the pontiff on the occasion, he added.

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

He said prominent leaders from the community including former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, Shivagiri Guru Narayana Guru Peeta Prakashananda Swamiji from Kerala, former Union Minister B Janardhana Poojari and Congress General Secretary B K Hariprasad would attend the programme besides scores of people from various parts of the state.

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