Pics: Deepak Paladka
Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi
Media Release
Abu Dhabi, Apr 26: World Bunts Day organized by UAE Bunts was held in a grand manner at the Armed Forces Club, Abu Dhabi on Friday April 25, attended by a huge number of Bunts.
The traditional festivities started at 10 am under the leadership of Sarvotham Shetty, president of UAE Bunts. All the VIPs and guests of the day were welcomed with traditional drum beats (chande) troupe, including men and women dressed in Indian traditional attires. A special attraction of the programme was that everybody was dressed in traditional Bunts attire, reflecting the rich culture of their homeland. A variety of colourful group dances were presented by children and adults.
The programme was presided over by Padmashree Dr B R Shetty, patron UAE Bunts, inaugurated by Sri Sri Sri Dr Vidyavachaspati Vishwa Santhosh Bharathi Sripadaru, Bhargava Beedu, Barkur Udupi district.
The prestigious 'Bunta Vibhushana' Award institutred by UAE Bunts was conferred on Vijayanath Vittal Shetty, well-known Indian entrepreneur and businessman and trustee of Bhoothanatheshwara Temple Mijar. He was felicitated with a shawl, Mysore Peta, memento and Sanmana Patra. After a brief introduction of organizers Manoj Shetty and Varna Shetty were felicitated. The felicitation programme was compered by Jyothika Shetty.
The following guests participated in the felicitation function:
Sri Santhosh Guruji, Peetadhyaksharu, Sri Barkur Maha Samsthanam
Dr B R Shetty, Grand Patron, UAE Bunts
Ajith Kumar Maladi, president, Matru Buntara Sangha, Mangalore
CA Shankar Shetty, president, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai
Shyam Shetty, president, Bunts Association, Mumbai
Dr Satyaprakash Shetty, president, Mulund Bunts
Bhaskar Shetty Santhoor, president, Belgaum Bunts Sangha
Vijayanath Vittal Shetty, president, Bunts Sangha, Bajpe
Shashidhar Shetty, president, Oman Bunts Sangha
Mahesh Hegde, president, Saudi Arabia Bunts Sangha
Neema Sharad Shetty, representing Australia Bunts
Sudhakar Shetty, ex-president, Kuwait Bunts, Tulu Koota and Kannada Sangha KWT
Satishchandra Shetty, ex-president, Kuwait Bunts, Tulu Koota and Kannada Sangha KWT
K.Vishwanatha Shetty, vice-president, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai
Chandrashekar Shetty, secretary, Bunts Association, Mumbai
Rathnakar Shetty, chairman, Mathrubhoomi, Mumbai
A Satish Shetty, treasurer, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai
A Surendra Shetty, treasurer, Bunts Association, Mumbai
Mohandas Shetty, joint secretary, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai
Suresh Shetty, trustee, Port Trust, Mangalore
Rajesh Shetty, president, Bahrain Kannada Sangha
Vijay Kumar Shetty, president, Kala Jagathu, Mumbai - Recipient of Rajyotsava Award
Nagriguthu Vivek Shetty, ex-president, Mulund Bunts
Raghuram Rai, president, Bunts Sangha, Belthangadi
Pravin Shetty, Jt.Treasurer, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai
Ganesh Hegde, cheoreographer, Bollywood, Mumbai
Gaokar, joint commissioner, sales tax, Mangalore
Gopal Y Shetty, Bunts Association, Mumbai
Gopal Y Shetty, Bunts Association, Mumbai
Adv Jayanth Shetty, Bunts Association, Mumbai
Harish Punja, high court lawyer,
Dr Shivsharan Shetty, Director, Namma TV
The programme continued with more dances by children, namely by Blues Diamond Abu Dhabi and freestyle Bollywood mix by Avirath and team, Dubai. Yakshagana Rupaka by Shashi Shetty and Guru Shetty was beautifully performed by the groups and received a huge applause from the audience.
The important session held on the occasion was group discussion about Bunts tradition, culture, 'Achara Vichara' and Tulu/Kannada language. During these discussions several members of the audience raised important questions. Appropriate and meaningful answers were given by guests who came from the different parts of world to attend the event which made atmosphere very homely.
A delicious mouth-watering buffet was arranged in an open skylight area of auditorium adding charm to the atmosphere. After the lunch five teams (Kithoora Rani Chennamma, Krishnadevaraya, Rani Abbakka, Onake Obavva and Sangoli Rayanna) participated in the group dance competition. The competition was mind blowing and a tough job for judges Vijay Kumar Shetty of Kala Jagathu, Mumbai, Ganesh Hegde, Bollywood choreographer, Mumbai and Vijayanatha Vittal Shetty, businessman from Mumbai to decide, as all the performances were praiseworthy and received a huge round of applause from the audiance. However, the judges had to make a decision and the final results were as follows:
(1) Ist prize – Sangolli Rayanna group, choereographed by Prasanna Shetty and Sachin Mada, Dubai
(2) 2nd prize – Krishnadevaraya, choreographed by Jasmitha Vivek, Dubai
(3) 3rd prize – Onake Obavva, choregraphed by Pawan, Abu Dhabi
The best choregrapher prize went to Prasanna Shetty and Sachin Mada. They were awarded with winning tropies and cash prizes.
The main sponsors of World Bunts Day were:
NMC group and UAE Exchange - Dr B R Shetty
ULB - Pradeep Kumar, Bangalore
Northern Sky Properties, Dubai
Khain Properties, Dubai
Heat Sheild - Premnath Shetty
Arab Udupi Group - S B Shetty
Base ID Décor - Chethan Shetty
Structcon - Ravi Shetty
Gantout Building Materials - Sujat Shetty
Ace Crane Systems - Gunsheel Shetty
Focus Direct - Umesh Shetty
Fortune Group of Hotel - Praveen Shetty
Winner of Shaikh Hamdan Awardees, and throwball champions were felicitated on the occasion. The kids' dance group got presents for their performance.
Sudheer Kumar Shetty, COO UAE Exchange Global was felicitated on the auspicious occasion for his achievements and for receiving two international awards as NRI personality of the year recently.
The cultural programmes were compered by Mangala Shetty, Sampath Shetty, Jyothica Shetty and Reshma Alva.
'Bale Telipaale' the famous hilarious skits were enjoyed by the audience during three sessions of the programme. Towards the end, a raffle draw was held and prizes were distributed on the spot.
CA Shankar Shetty, president of Bunts Sangha, Mumbai made the concluding remarks and suggested how to take this "World Bunts Day" forward year after year with the help of worldwide Bunts Sanghas. He wholeheartedly praised the event organized by the UAE Bunts.
B R Shetty of NMC thanked Sarvotham Shetty for his hard work and dedication and for making this 40th get-together of UAE Bunts and World Bunts Day a most memorable one.
The entire programme captured the beauty of Bunt harmony and highlighted the tradition, culture and unity of Tulunadu.
UAE Bunts president Sarvotham Shetty coordinated the entire programme with the help of Vijay Kumar Shetty and organizing committee members of UAE Bunts.