Dubai: UAE Bunts Come Together for Vibrant Samoohika Satyanarayana Puja
Report: Shodhan Prasad
Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Pics: Vivek Anand
Dubai, Oct 2: UAE Bunts concluded a vibrant Samoohika Satyanarayana puja at JSS International School, Al Barsha, Dubai on Friday September 30. The puja formalities started at around 9.30 am with ‘Kalasha Prathishtapana’ and continued with Bhajans rendered by various groups who sang praises of Lord with true devotion. UAE Bunts convenor Sarvotham Shetty inaugurated the puja function by welcoming the devotees.
Bunts community members from all over UAE flocked in vast numbers to witness the programme which was also attended by various other community leaders and devotees. In a short while, the whole auditorium was full with more than 1300 devotees attending and witnessing this well organised puja programme.
On behalf of the UAE Bunts, Anil and Rekha Shetty, Manoj and Noopur Shetty, and Shivanand and Chetan Shetty sat on the pedestal representing all the devotees. It was recorded that around 500 sevakarthas were committed to this programme.
The stage setting was well arranged with concept and design by Ganesh Rai, ex-president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah with his own created wide potraits of Anantha Shayana Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Shiva and Lord Maha Ganapathi, Goddess Durgadevi including Lord Hanuman and Lord Garuda beautifully erected on both sides and the puja mantap in the centre well decorated with flowers, fruits with colourful lights. The main attraction was eye catching Nandini and Khamadhenu’s full size statues on both sides of the stage which beautified the arena.
The Bhajan team was organised by Mahesh Shetty with Shri Rajarajeshwari Team lead by Rajesh Kuthar, Vishwakarma Sewa Samithi Team lead by Shantaram Achar and Narayana Seva Samithi lead by Giridhar Nayak. While the bhajans were going on the entire devotees felt the positive vibration surrounding them with the sound of drums, bells and tala. The bhajans which went on for 3 hours non-stop melodiously dedicated in praise of the Lord.
Later Ganesh Rai, announced the proceedings, the main part of the puja; ‘Shri Satyanarayana Katha’ presentation. Purohit Raghu Bhat who did the entire proceedings explained stage by stage the 5 chapters of the puja formality while all the devotees dedicatedly listened to his recitation throughout until the Maha Mangalarathi which got concluded at around 1.30 pm. Followed was Abhanga bhajans by the group of 14 ladies and 14 gent’s team continuously dancing to the tune with true devotion along with the beats of drums which took off the devotees to a pure devotional world.
Those who sponsored and supported the programme were called upon on the stage and honoured and those included Sashi Shetty, Shekar Shetty, Pravin Shetty, Satish Shetty, Sujath Shetty, Ravi Shetty, Divesh Alva, Shekar Shetty and from the Media field Shodhan Prasad, Ashok Belman, Vivek Anand and Vinay Naik.
With the help of volunteers devotees queued up formally and accepted the prasada attaining darshan of Lord Satyanarayana. Maha Prasada distribution was at the second floor of the complex and all the devotees returned home after savouring the traditional tasty vegetarian delicacy served systematically with two buffet counters without any rushing. This was totally well arranged by Divesh Alva and Shekar Shetty of Woodlands Restaurant, Sharjah who should be appreciated.
The puja Committee headed by Sudhakar Alva, Ganesh Rai including Convenor Sarvotham Shetty and their whole team did the excellent work in arranging such a totally organised puja programme.