Maagha Shuddha Pratipada – Our signature event – By Rohit Algeri

‘Man is a social being’ – true to that adage our Bangalore Kannada Vaishya Sangha was established in 1971 to provide a platform to get all our community folks together and socialize and help the upbringing of our community for ages to come.
As we are all well aware of, we are ardent followers of Shringeri Sharada Peetam and it is considered to be the Matt for our community.
When Bangalore Kannada Vaishya Sangha was established in 1971, the then head pontiff of Shringeri Sharada Peetam, Shri Shringeri Jagadguru Paramapujya Shri Shri Shrimadh Abhinav Vidya Teertha Maha Swamiji blessed us with ‘Maagha Shuddha Pratipada’ as the day to get together and celebrate our tradition, culture and devotion. According to the traditional Hindu calendar, the first of the Maagha Maasa is the day allotted to us and hence the name ‘Maagha Shuddha Pratipada’.
On this auspicious day, we all get together at our ‘Shri Shankara Sannidhi’ and indulge in a lot of devotional & cultural activities.
The day starts with the recital of ‘Shri Lalita Sahasranama’ by the members of our Maitreyi Mahila Mandala, our very own women’s group.
This is followed by Sankalp Ritual for Samoohika Shri Satyanarayana Puja and Shri Satyaganapati Puja. And this is followed by the Puja Rituals and Satyanarayana Kathas.
Folks who donate to the Annadana for ‘Magha Shudhdha Pratipada’ are given the privilege of sitting and conducting the puja rituals.
Following the MahaMangalarati is the remembrance of Shri Shri Shringeri Jagadguru, benediction speech, satsang and felicitation of Volunteers by Pujya Swamini Sampannanandaji (Chinmaya Mission, Sagar)
Following this is the Guru Vandana and distribution of Puja prasadam.
After a hearty afternoon lunch sponsored by our community members every year, is an invocation by members of Maitreyi Mahila Mandala.
An introductory speech by President of the Sangha follows. Following this is the distribution of Scholarships to the deserving under ‘S.L.S Vidyanidhi’ Program.
Awarding students who have excelled in their studies under the sponsorship of Shri. Madhukar. M. Kanjan and Shri. Vasant. G. Shetti (Bellad).
Welcoming people of our community who are new to the city of Bangalore.
Cultural Program diversifying into Devotional Songs, Folk Songs, playing musical instruments, dance & fancy dress, by talented and the bright kids and people of our community is an eagerly awaited event of the day.
An important event of the day is the remembrance of the founders who have departed from us and volunteers who toiled for the development of the Sangha.
Prize distribution and thanksgiving marks the end of a devotional day & cultural splash.