Mallika Ravindra Acharya
Daijiworld Media Network - Muscat
Muscut, May 5: The 22nd annual get-together of Vishwabrahmana Okkoota community was held with much fanfare at the Al Maasa Hall recently on 20th April 2012.
 
For the first time the get-together witnessed a colourful cultural programme put up by the members of the community. The members of the community living across the Sultanate of Oman attended the event.

The programme began on an auspicious note with the lighting of the lamp.

Well known personality Ramesh Deshanoor from Bailahongalu, Belgaum District was the chief guest. Members of Oman’s Vishwabrahmana management committee including K Ganesh Acharya Kaup, president, Seetharam Acharya, Karkala, vice president, Jayaram Acharya Karkala, secretary, Harischandra Acharya Kenja, joint secretary and Sadananda Acharya Karkala, treasurer joined him in lighting the lamp.

Earlier Prasad Acharya escorted Ramesh Deshanur to the stage.
 
Following the lighting of the lamp, women of the Vishwabrahmana community rendered the Vishwakarma sthotra (Rohini, Revati, Archana, Prema, Varija, Vinutha and Sunita).Welcome speech by Harishchandra Acharya, Kenja completed the inaugural formalities.
 
Chief guest Ramesh Deshanur and his wife Annapoorna Deshanur were honoured by Seetharam Acharya and his wife Rohini Acharya on the occasion. Rajagopalachari and his wife Tejovathi who were on a visit from Bangalore were also honoured by Sadanand Acharya and his wife Revati Acharya.
 
The event also witnessed the honouring of D R Badiger, editor of Kalikadevi Vani, Bangalore. He was honoured by Harish Acharya Belman.
 
Those honoured spoke on the occasion and appreciated the gesture of the community members.

Members of the community who had travelled all the way from Sohar, Suwaiq and Sur were appreciated.
 
Jayaram Acharya Karkala, secretary of the committee read out the report which wrapped up the activities as well as detailed the accounts of the community. The report informed the membership fee collected that had been used for educating economically backward students from community living in Karnataka. He also added that the money was also used towards renovating the community temple. Besides some amount was used on medical expenses for the needy and also help economically backward families with marriage expenses of girls.
 
Sadananda Acharya Karkala, treasurer submitted the details of the money spent (financial report).
 
Following the submission and tabling of report, elections to elect new members to the committee was held. At the end of counting, it was found that the same committees were reelected to their respective posts.
 
In their speech Mahesh Purohit and Sudhakar Panchal appreciated the work being done by the community members in Oman.
 
The chief guest Ramesh Deshanur who spoke on the occasion appreciated the work being done by the community members in Oman. K Ganesh Acharya Kaup, president of the committee who has been the driving force behind the Vishwabrahmana community also spoke on the occasion. Seetharam Acharya Karkala, vice president, who is known working closely with the members for the welfare of the community also spoke.
 
The programme saw winners, men, women and children, in events such as sports, rangoli and drawing competition being honoured at a prize distribution ceremony (Varija Jayaram read out the list).
 
While some prizes were distributed by chief guest Ramesh Deshanur, others were distributed by K Ganesh Acharya Kaup, president of the committee.
 
The Vishwabrahmana community sports team was honoured at the annual get-together of Kudla Friends Muscat for being the best disciplined team. The team was honoured and prizes were given by Shaju Acharya from Sohar. (List was read out by Rajendra Acharya).

Creative artist Ambarish Acharya’s art was exhibited along with that of children of the community’s drawings. A memento was given to him by the committee as an appreciation token.

The much awaited event of the evening, the cultural programme began with the group devotional song.
 
The cultural programme which was conceptualized by Raghavendra and Mallika Ravindra was also hosted by them. Their innovative style of hosting received much appreciation from the audience.
 
The group devotional song was followed by a dance performance by little girls for the song Radhe Kishna Odi Baro Kunidhadona Bega Ba (Children: Sinchana, Anushika, Driti, Varshini and Vaishnavi). A solo Bharathanatyam recital by Pavithra Sadananda Acharya impressed the audience next. Uday rendered two songs, one in Kannada – Sanju mathu Geeta and the other in Tulu language.

Little girl Sheetal Panibushan danced to a very popular number Ye Ishq Hai (Film by Jab We Met).
 
Singer Vani Devdas took the audience down the memory lane with song from the 1980s, the well loved Banallu Neene Bhuviyallu Neene.

Following her song, Vani Devdas’s daughter, three-and-a- half-year-old Vaishnavi put up a spirited dance performance to the song Chikni Chameli.In between, the hostess of the evening Mallika Ravindra conducted a quiz based on the community.

Upcoming singer Sandeep Acharya rendered a song with romantic voice Neenade na from movie Murali Meets Meera.
 
Little Abhinav Pradeep danced to very popular number Maahive Maahive.
 
B R Pratap impressed with his ability to mimic prominent personalities especially film actors.
 
A fashion show depicting different dress styles from diverse countries including Oman and different states of India was held much to the delight of the audience.
 
The performance of the evening was, of course, a dance put up by men of the community. With sporting school uniforms they danced to the tune of a popular number – Baninalli Moodi Banda Chanda Mama.
 
A dance Sanju Shaju and Sanusha Shaju was well appreciated by the audience.
 
Sandeep and Raghavendra, came together to sing a dancing number Kalavannu Thadeyoru yaaru illa from the famous Kannada film Aptha Mitra.
 
Then it was Chamak Challo time. The colourful song saw little girls and boys put up an energetic show. Mallika Ravindra lent a traditional touch to the dance by performing classical steps for the song.

Present world famous song Kolaveri was sung by five little boys (Yashas, Abhisek, Rahul, Saath and Sanju)

Sandeep and Rani sang the popular Kannada song Pankaja from the Kannada movie Hudugaru to which the kids danced.

Dancer Ravi Sannasomachar danced to a Pankaja song. Upcoming young talented key board player Yashas showed his performance.
 
Raghavendra proposed the vote of thanks. The entire proceeding was hosted by Ravindra Acharya Kalathur.

The get together saw new members being inducted as members of Vishwabrahmana community.
 
The eventful evening came to an end with sumptuous dinner.