Pandit Upendra Bhat receives Vadhiraj Award

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, March 26: The Vadhiraj Award was conferred on Pandit Upendra Bhat by State Home Minister Dr. V S Acharya at Shri Venkatramana Temple on Car Street on March 26, Friday. The award comprised a memento, a shawl, and a citation. 

Pandit Upendra Bhat said that the award conferred on him actually belongs his guru, the widely acclaimed Hindustani singer Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, and that he could become Pandit Upendra Bhat only after becoming his disciple. 














Dr. V S Acharya said that he was glad to know that a Kannadiga received the Vadhiraj Award. He expressed his hope that Bhat would win many more awards and recognitions in future. 

Dr. Acharya spoke about Vadiraj, who lived five centuries ago and created several devotional songs. Appreciating Hinduism, he said that the religion is ancient, adding that it is the only religion that states “Sarvejano Sukhino Bhavantu.” 

C L Shenoy, the administrator of the Venkatramana Temple; Rajendra Kumar, the deputy mayor of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC); and Pradeep Kalkura, the president of Kalkura Prathistana, were also present on the occasion.