Haneef Bantwal

Muscat, Feb 18: Social Forum Oman, under Karnataka Chapter organized an annual family get-together programme 'Bandhavya – 2017' on February 10 at Halban Farm House, Barka in a festive setting.

The people living in Oman were wonderstruck by the village market and were transported down memory lane to their childhood. Hut shops, fair price ration store, roadside stalls with village food and hot and spicy snacks and drinks like gas-soda etc attracted visitors as well as guests and revitalized them. The audience was very happy and proud they could see their native place and coastal village in Muscat.

The programme began with games for children and rural sports for all age groups. Everyone present wholeheartedly participated in the competition. Ladies volunteers conducted sports and games for the ladies. By this they reminisced the sweet and sour memories of their childhood days with their friends. All the men and women participated enthusiastically and appreciated the three months of hard work put in by the organizers.

The chief guest of programme, Shafi Bellare, state council member of Popular Front of India praised all the people who labored hard in making the programme successful. He was all praises for the unity shared by the community of Karnataka. Due to lack of understanding and unity in the current scenario, there have been delays for Indian Muslims in obtaining their rights. Hence he urged for more of these types of gatherings to be an environment for unity and a platform to solve all the existing problems which is the need of the hour. He further said, "If we continue to practise this kind of unity, then it is imminent for tranquility to reign.

On stage, president of the Social Forum- Central, Abdul Hameed Panemangalore, Karnataka Chapter vice president, Syed Moidin Saheb Sastan, president of Pravasi Forum, Karnataka Chapter, Anwar Moodabidre were present. They appreciated all the performers and awarded the winners with prizes.

Abbas Kaikamba welcomed the guests. Noor Mohammed Padubidre anchored the programme and Riyaz Gangolli proposed the vote of thanks. The programme was managed by Salam Bailoor and Asif Bailoor and sponsored by Cochin Jewellery and Al Nahdah Construction, whereby a free medical camp was also arranged for the public. At the end of the programme, dinner prepared by members of Social Forum was served to everyone at the venue, bringing about the environment of a wedding ceremony which was an added attraction of the programme.