Gavai consigned to earth
The mortal remains of Pt Gavai were buried as per the rituals of Veerashaiva tradition amid chanting of hymns and slogans by disciples of the seer. More than 450 seers performed the rituals. The State police contingent reversed arms and offered a full gun salute.
Mundargi Annadan Swami, Hubli Murusavira Mutt Rajyogendra Swami, Abhinava Annadan Swami and Dr Tontada Siddalinga Swami supervised the rituals. The mortal remains of Pt Gavai was buried beside the grave of his Guru Pandit Panchakshari Gavai.
Earlier, a procession carrying the body of Pt Gavai was taken out in the main streets of Gadag-Betageri twin cities. Lakhs of disciples, admirers and people from different parts of the State had come to Gadag to pay their homage to the great saint and musician, who dedicated his life for the welfare of the visually-challenged.
Hundreds of folk art troupes from Hubli, Dharwad, Bellary, Haveri, Koppal and other districts sung Vachanas, spiritual hymns and presented devotional short plays to highlight the service of Pt Gavai to mankind throughout the procession.
The procession, wended its way from the K H Patil Stadium to pass through Bhumareddy Circle, K H Patil Circle, Basaveshwar Circle, Namajoshi Road, Huyilgol Narayanrao Circle, Station Road, Gandhi Circle, Court Circle, Health Camp, Kuruhatti Pete and Hatalgeri Naka, before arriving at Veereshwara Punyashrama.
Residents had cleaned all the roads in the City and put Rangoli in front of their houses along the procession route as a mark of respect to the departed saint, who was also called as ‘living god.’
People brought their children out of their house to take the last glance of Pt Gavai, saluted the great soul in Indian style joining their both palms and poured petals of flowers on the Ganayogi's body.
It was really touching to see lakhs of devotees breaking down at a time suddenly when the body of Pt Gavai was lifted for taking out in the procession. The State Government, which had declared a holiday for government offices and educational institutions in Gadag district due to the demise of Pandit Puttaraja Gavai, extended the holiday to the entire State.
The announcement came in the morning after majority of offices and institutions had commenced work. However, a good number of public functions were cancelled in Bangalore.
Rs 5 crore for memorial
The Government has announced Rs five crore for constructing a memorial in Gadag in the name of Pandit Puttaraj Gavai.
Announcing this here on Saturday, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said a special Cabinet meeting would be called in the next two days to discuss ways and means for the overall development of Veereshwara Punyashrama, where Pt Puttaraj Gavai lived and worked for enriching classical music and for the welfare of the visually challenged children.
Yeddyurappa also said the government would publish the black border gazette to mark the demise of the seer.