Mysuru:  As part of the ongoing 20th Brahmotsava celebrations of Sri Datta Venkateshwaraswamy Kshetra, 21st anniversary of Nada Mantapa and 77th birthday celebrations of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at Ganapathy Ashrama on Ooty Road here, prosthetic and other aids were distributed to 162 physically and mentally challenged people.

The Swamiji distributed Wheelchairs, Walking Sticks, Standing Frames, aid kits for Mentally Retarded, Cerebral Palsy Chairs and Sewing Machines.

On the occasion, the following awards were also conferred on various achievers by the Swamiji:

• ‘Vedanidhi on Gullapalli Seetharamachandra Ghanapati (Yajurveda), Rajahmundry, AP.

• ‘Shastranidhi’ on Dr. Devadatta Patil (Tharka Meemamse), Goa.

• ‘Nadanidhi’ on Vid. Karikudi R. Mani (Mridanga), Chennai.

• ‘Asthana Vidwan’ on Dr. Sanath Kumar Sharma (Stouthra and Gamaka), Mathur; Vid. Abhishek Raghuram (vocal), Chennai and Vid. Giridhar Udupa (ghata), Bengaluru.

• ‘Datta Peetha Bandhu’ on Kalyan Das, Hyderabad and Burah Bhaskar Dutt, Hyderabad.

• ‘Jayalakshmi Puraskara’ on Pushpa Iyengar, Mysuru.

• ‘Vishwa Hindu’ on Narendra Choudhar, Bhakti TV Founder, Hyderabad.

• ‘Pranibandhu’ on Dr. H. Subhash, Mysuru.

• ‘Sasyabandhu’ on Jyoti N. Parekh, Mumbai.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji asked everyone to develop an attitude to help the disabled which was a   divine job.

Junior Pontiff Sri Datta Vijayananda Theertha Swamiji graced the occasion.