Rons Bantwal
Mumbai, Jan 21: "The greatest achievement of life is to come together in harmonious competition with society. If a person's health is damaged, life itself is damaged. Life can be maintained only if it is healthy. Therefore, health and longevity are the greatest wealth. Sri Ram also wore a bow and arrow with him, if the bow was healthy, the arrow was life. Without body, no dharma karma is possible. Likewise, sport is a supplement to health," said Harikatha Vidwan Kairabettu Vishwanath Bhat, founder of Shri Krishna Vithala Pratisthan Mumbai.
He added that sport is a power that gives prosperity to mind and body.
Vidwan Kairabettu graced the opening ceremony of the annual 'Koti-Chennaya Sports Meet 2024’ organized by the youth wing of Billawar Association Mumbai at Mumbai University Stadium, Marine Lane West here on January 21.
Billawa Samaj Seva Sangh Pune president Vishwanath Poojary Kadtala, Bunts Sangh Mumbai general secretary, Karnataka Janapada Parishad Maharashtra unit president Dr R K Shetty, member, Yogesh D Amin of union ministry of chemicals and fertilizers, Vishwa Devadiga Maha Mandal president Dharmapal U Devadiga, Shivaji Chhatrapati awardee veteran sportsperson Jaya A Shetty, Karnataka Sangha Chembur's immediate past president advocate H K Sudhakar Poojary, former directors of Bharat Bank L V Amin (former president of Billawa Association) N T Poojary cChairman: Billawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry), M B Sanil, Jyoti K Suvarna, Purushottama S Kotyan, Suresh R Anchan, Premnath P Kotyan, businessmen Damodar Amin, Devendra V Bangera, Tulsidas Amin, Anil Salyan, Mahabala Poojary, Ritesh D Poojary graced the stage.
In the opening ceremony presided over by Harish G Amin, president of Billavara Association, the guest of honour performed aarti to Gurus Koti-Chennaya, Kantabare-Budabare, Brahmashree Narayana and symbolically started the sports festival. The association's head office and various local committees' working chairpersons, office bearers, members, service corps participated in the exciting procession organized on the occasion of the sports event. The dignitaries received the march past and saluted them.
Dr R K Shetty released a bunch of colourful balloons carrying the name plate of the sports festival to celebrate the annual sports festival. The president Harish Amin announced the flag-raising sports festival. Vishwanath Pujary received the sports torch brought by the champion team of the last sports festival Prathi Poojary, Trupti Poojary Pratiksha Pujari's team and lit the sports torch. Pratiksha Pujary preached sports oath.
The association's vice presidents Shankar D Poojary, Jayanthi V Ullal, Dharmapala G Anchan, K Suresh Kumar, honorary treasurer Rajesh J Bangera, joint secretary Keshav K Kotian, joint treasurers Shivaram S Poojary, Mohan D Poojary, Harishchandra G Kunder, Sarath G Poojary, ladies wing chairperson Shakuntala K Kotian, Seva Dal Dalpati Ganesh K Poojary, assistant editor of Akshaya Monthly Harish G Pujari Kokkarne, chairman, committees members of local committees of the association including office bearers of various committees were present and participated in the various competitions organized.
Association's Youth Wing chairman Nilesh Poojary Palimaru welcomed the gathering. Honorary general secretary Harish G Salian introduced the guests and narrated the programme of the meeting. Ravi S Sanil, Vishwanath R Tonse, Rikita Salyan, Chinmaya M Salyan, Harini Nilesh Poojary managed the sports event. Youth Wing secretary Naveen L Bangera proposed a vote of thanks.