Mysuru: The 60th birthday of former Minister and senior JD(S) leader S.R. Mahesh was celebrated with service activities in several parts of the city yesterday.

The birthday celebration formally began by welcoming Mahesh, accompanied by playing of ‘Mangalavadya’ and  folk troupes, near Moogumaramma Temple at Srirampura. After he offered Puja at the temple, Mahesh was brought in a procession to Siddappaji Temple and Rama Mandira, where too he prayed. Thereafter, he cut the birthday cake and distributed clothes to Pourakarmikas.

Earlier in the day, Mahesh, accompanied by his family members, visited Chamundi Hill and offered prayers to the deity. The JD(S) party workers, who had gathered, expressed their wish by garlanding and adorning him with a Mysore Peta.

Mahesh’s birthday was also celebrated at Kempegowda Circle on T. Narasipur Road, at his office on Rama Vilas Road, Chamundi Childrens’ Home an KRS Road, Netaji Circle at Dattagalli, near Avant BKG Hospital on Ring Road, Bogadi Junction signal, in Vijayanagar 3rd Stage and a few other parts of the city.

S.R. Mahesh during a service activity as part of his birthday celebrations.

However, the celebration was more grand at his native K.R. Nagar, from where he was elected as an MLA for three successive terms. The celebration was marked by a grand celebration with musical evening by Music Director Sadhu Kokila and playback singer Naveen Sajju at Radio Grounds (beside K.R. Nagar TMC) in the town. A mega free health check-up and voluntary blood donation camp was organised and more than 600 spectacles were distributed to needy people at the venue, who underwent eye-check up at the camp.

Also, financial help was provided to poor patients suffering from kidney ailments for undergoing dialysis and free notebooks were distributed to students, distribution of Insurance Bonds to select beneficiary children, distribution of hair dressing tool kit for Savitha Samaja members, iron box to laundrymen and pushcarts to street vendors.

MLC C.N. Manjegowda, former MP Prathap Simha, former MLC Sandesh Nagaraj, City JD(S) President SBM Manju, District President M. Ashwin Kumar, former MUDA Chairman Yashaswini Somashekar,

Mass feeding

Marking the birthday celebration, free lunch (Holige meals)  was provided to thousands of people from K.R. Nagar and Saligrama taluks, at K.R. Nagar TMC Grounds. The menu included Holige, Vegetable Bath, Rice, Curry etc. This apart, a special gift was distributed to Pourakarmikas, auto and tempo drivers, D-Group employees, Anganwadi and ASHA workers, staff of CESCom, KSRTC, teachers, journalists, Policemen etc.

Besides, two Ambulances and a hearse van meant for services in K.R. Nagar and Saligrama taluks were launched.

Thousands of flex boards, cut-outs, banners and buntings dotted the prominent streets, junctions, circles and other public places in the entire K.R. Nagar.