Maintaining sacredness and sanctity, the Sri Guru Raghavendra Utsava will be held on January 5, 2025, at Shalini Grounds, near the 5th Block Sri Raghavendra Swamy Temple, organized by the prestigious Siri Kannada television channel.
With an estimated budget of ₹70 lakhs, the one-day event aims to instill devotion in the hearts of Bengaluru residents. Approximately 50,000 devotees are expected to gather to seek blessings at this thoughtfully planned event.
Renowned Kannada cinema art director Hosamane Murthy is creating a grand replica of the Brindavana premises from Mantralaya. The setup includes the Sri Hanuman Temple and, opposite it, the Sri Raghavendra Swamy Brindavana with a plaster of Paris model Prakara. To enhance the sanctity of the occasion, the idol of Sri Prahlada Devaru will be placed before the Brindavana. Sri Subudhendra Swamiji of Mantralaya will perform the Abhisheka. Devotees will receive Phala Mantrakshate and Parimala Prasada free of cost.
Sanjay and Rajesh, heads of the Siri Kannada entertainment channel, informed the media about the event highlights. Notable artists such as Rajesh Krishnan, Manjula Gururaj, and Archana Udupa will perform Devaranama singing. Renowned scholars like Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya, Dr. Aralumallige Parthasarathy, and Sri Brahmanyachar will deliver discourses during this event, scheduled from 9 AM to 9 PM.
“We are not focusing on revenue. Our aim is to make this a truly devotional event. The concept of this program was conceived one and a half months ago, and Sri Subudhendra Swamiji’s support has been invaluable,” they stated.
This event is being organized in collaboration with Madhusudan Hawaldar, director of the Jagannatha Dasaru series, and C.R. Murali, a Chartered Accountant.
Dignitaries such as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Hon’ble Shri Siddaramaiah, ministers, Lok Sabha members, MLAs, film stars, and others will attend. Notable actors Dhananjay and Ashika Ranganath, along with 25 other achievers, will receive the prestigious Sri Guru Raghavendra award from Sri Subudhendra Theertha Sripadam.
As part of the celebrations, an exhibition showcasing the life and glory of Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy and the contributions of 1008 Sri Subudhendra Tirthas will be displayed in an attractive gallery. A stunning 30×40 feet rangoli will also be a major highlight. Devotees will chant “Shri Guru Raghavendraya Namah” 108 times, offering their prayers to the Brindavana.
The event will also feature food services for devotees, hosted by Namana Caterers. Devotee Sri Prabhakar is assisting in the seamless execution of this one-of-a-kind event in India.
As a continuation of the celebration, a new program titled Rayariddaare will premiere on the Siri Kannada channel starting February 3, airing Monday to Saturday at 6:30 PM. This 30-minute daily program will feature the daily worship rituals of Mantralaya, the blessings of 1008 Sri Subudhendra Tirthas, miracles of Rayaru, interviews with blessed devotees, and re-creations of Rayaru’s life story.
