News: Shodhan Prasad
Sharjah, Nov 19: Karnataka Sangha Sharjah celebrated their 17th anniversary along with 64th Karnataka Rajyotsava Day, Children’s Day celebration and ‘Mayura Vishwamanya Kannadiga’ Award presentation on November 15 at Sharjah Indian Association Auditorium.
The programme began with the hoisting of Karnataka state flag with all due respects by the convener Mark Denis and all executive committee members of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah. Also present were K B Ramesh of Al Ain Karnataka Sangha and some of their members. Mark Denis read out the report on the progress of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah and its activities all these years.
The cultural programme started with the students of Symphony Music Institute who presented the welcome dance which was very well applauded. Followed were dance presentations from students and members of Radical Dance Studio, Billawas Dubai, Vishwakarma Seva Samithi, Disciples of Mamatha, Sukanya, and Kannada Pata Shale who all presented classical, semi-Classical, folk and cinematic dances.
Children’s Day celebrated
On the occasion, Children’s Day was celebrated and importance was given to the children especially dance and singing.
Sannidhi V Shetty, Prapthi Pakkala, Amogha Varsha Bhat, Ninadh Bhat, Aisiri Roshan Shetty, Amisha, Shaun Christen, Annika Siona, Soorya Santosh and Shreyas Krishna gave appreciated performances applauded by the audience.
‘Mayura Vishwamanya Kannadiga’ Award presented to Ramachandra Hegde
The formal stage programme started with the lighting of traditional lamp by the main guests of the evening who were all welcomed over to the stage and honoured with flower bouquet and shawl of Karnataka flag.
President of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha Anand Bailoor welcomed the gathering and later invited the awardee for the honours. The award presentation were done in midst of all the guests on stage namely president of UAE Karnataka NRI Forum Praveen Kumar Shetty, managing director of Emsquare Engineering Mohammed Mustafa, president of Indian Association Sharjah, I P Johnson, convener of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha Mark Denis, former president of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha Ganesh Rai and general secretary Noel Almeida. Later, MLA from Karnataka Umanath Kotian and MD of Namma Kudla TV Channel Karkera arrived and were honoured on the stage. Umanath Kotian spoke on the occasion and said he prefers to be called as a social worker instead of leader. He highlighted some of the prevailing issues and promised that he will serve his people to the best possible.
This year ‘Mayura Vishwamanya Kannadiga’ Award was presented to the simple and big-hearted businessman Ramachandra Hegde of Amchigele Samaj who is also the managing director of Spraytek Construction & Coating Company in Dubai. He along with his wife Kalpana Hegde and daughters Archana and Aishwarya received the award with flower bouquet, shawl, appreciation letter, fruit basket and ‘Mayura’ Award in the glittering ceremony. In return, Hegde thanked the organization and appealed to the audience to promote Kannada by teaching the mother tongue to children and also said that he is now committed to do more to Kannada and the society at large.
Long serving member of the sangha, Vishwanath Shetty along with his wife Usha Shetty were felicitated and honoured during the programme. He was bestowed with shawl, appreciation letter and memento.
All the sponsors, well-wishers, participants, community heads of various organization and mediapersons were all honoured with shawl and mementos.
Kochikar Devadas Pai honoured with ‘Sangeetha Kala Rathna’ Award
Vidwan Sitar Ratna Kochikar Devdas Pai who was invited exclusively for the programme performed lively and was accompanied by Manoj Kumar on Tabla. This was his maiden performance in Dubai and appreciated by all while he played ‘Bhagyada Laxmi Baaramaa’, ‘Shankarabharana’ and few other Kannada filmy songs on Sitar.
Devdas Pai has performed all over the world and has received appreciations and awards.
Appreciating his contribution to Indian music, Sharjah Karnataka Sangha president and members honoured him with ‘Sangeetha Kala Rathna’ Award on the stage during the ceremony.
Arathi Adiga, Vighnesh and Amogha Bhat compered the whole programme in various intervals smoothly, flawlessly and were appreciated by the whole audience.
It was the members of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha who put their whole effort in presenting such a beautiful programme.