The Guruvandana and 111th birthday celebrations of the Walking God Shivakumara Swamiji were launched by lighting as many lamps at Siddaganga Mutt here on Sunday.
The mutt heads and the seers from across the state performed a mass Padapuja to the centenarian seer.
Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami of Suttur Mutt, Adi Chunchanagiri Mutt Seer Nirmalananda Swami, Siddalinga Swami of Siddaganga Mutt, Shivarudra Swami of Beli Mutt, Bengaluru, Mummadi Nirvana Swami of Degula Mutt, Kanakapura, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Brihanmutt among others grace the inaugural event.
Due to the moral code of conduct, no elected representatives or the politicians were invited to the event.
However, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, Channapatna MLA C P Yogeshwar attended the event.
Arrangements have been made to serve food to as many as one lakh people at seven different places on the mutt premises.
A slew of cultural programmes as part of birthday celebrations has been organised.
K M Lokeshwar and team, Rajesh Krishnan and team, and students and teachers of various institutions run by the Mutt will perform Panchaveena Vadana, Gana Madhurya and Basava Belgau programmes respectively.
As part of security measures, over 200 police personnel have been deployed in the Mutt.
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