Media Release
Muscat, Nov 10: The Bunts Community members in Oman have been active and vibrant socially and culturally, creating a lot of awareness in values amongst their members in the last 30 years. This community has created a bond of unity within through regular and annual gatherings. Recently, Bunts of Oman organized Grameena Kreeda Koota - A village sports assembly. Spectacular ethnic sports and games for the community were created in slushy and muddy paddy field - Kesaru Gadde, as a means to play sports and games in a traditional manner.
This is the second time the Bunts arranged this lovely event for their members. Besides the paddy field, they also built a traditional home, 'Barkha Guthu' with the purpose of creating awareness of traditional and age old ethnicity and its importance in modern life. This agriculturist community in the pursuit of keeping their younger generation well informed on their family values, arranged this event for their community members.
As part of the on-going celebration of 30 years of togetherness, the Buntara Mahotsava committee also planned a day long cultural fun-filled extravaganza' within.
Divakar Shetty, managing director of Multitech LLC was the architect of the plan and construction of this concept, in bringing the much appreciated festival per se. The panorama depicting typical Bunts rural countryside was complete with slush and muddy paddy field, swimming pond, traditional water well with facility to draw water, coconut grooves, paaka shale, bhojana shale, village huts and shops, ethnic food stalls, a stage for performance all neatly covered by a roof of thatched coconut leaves. These were the highlights of the arrangements. The lovely arch at the venue welcomed everyone, with its colourful patake or tiny flags. Mango leaves were used to create the traditional decor at the dining hall. Cluster of tender coconuts and Pingara, the arecanut flowers and areca fruits along with fresh flower
garlands had a sentimental value for everyone who attended the event. Setting up of a Tulasibrindavan was yet another creative and traditional matter of appreciation. This was adorned with Rangoli design and decor by Saroja S Shetty, Mallika Shetty, Sudheera Shetty, Shyna Shetty, Vanishree Shetty and Surekha Rai, the committee ladies.
There was a variety of eats and juices available free at the village shops. Watermelon, sugarcane, tender coconut, charmuri, Kharjura, Kurlumithai, banana, omelette, ice cream, tea-coffee etc were available for everyone to enjoy. They created a carnival kind of atmosphere with wonderful arrangements. This was impeccably coordinated and executed by the committee convener Shashidhar Shetty and his force of volunteers.
The committee members along with a number of volunteers contributed to the proceedings of the event. The event began with traditional Mangalurean breakfast.
The inaugural function commenced at 8.00 am with a prayer by the organizing committee. Committee member welcomed the guests and members.
The entire day was filled with fun and frolic making it a unique event of its kind abroad. Convenor of the event, Shashidhar Shetty Mallar symbolically inaugurated the event by breaking the coconut. Kalladi Shanker T Shetty compered the programme. Sudhin Shetty provided excellent sound and DJ support.
Shashidhar Shetty Mallar gave the welcome address and highlighted the importance of the traditional sports and games meet. "Back home in India, ethnic sports and games used to be a picture of Bunt culture and heritage."
Kesaru Gadde Sports:
Sathyaprasad Rai and Ganesh V Shetty, conducted various sports events. In the muddy field, running race, hand ball, tug of war, pot breaking competition, gold treasure hunt and many other competitions were organized.
Kambla buffalo race:
The entire audience appeared thrilled, while the water-mixed mud sprinkled and splashed across the field by the buffaloes during kambala. This too was an amazing part of the event and very rare sight in the Gulf.
Four pairs of buffaloes participated in the Kambala race. Kaup Mallar brothers buffaloes represented by Nagesh Shetty Kinnigoly, STS Sohar Guthu represented by Ashok Shetty Suratkall, Gobra and Ruwi Guthu represented by Surendra Shetty and Jayaraj Shetty. Oman Tuluver Guthu was represented by Ramanand Shetty team. Kambala was
conducted by Mulki Arasuseeme Chandrahas Shetty and Nagesh shetty Kinnigoly.
Traditional sumptuous Bunt breakfast, lunch and dinner were prepared at the site under the direction of Shashidhar Shetty Mallar and team. Semige, Korisukka, Korirotti, Moode, Bangude fry, Kudutasaar, Basalekajipu, Egg masala etc were among the variety of lunch items served on plantain leaves enhancing the flavour of the event.
Games were continued after lunch, conducted by Saroja S Shetty Mallika S Shetty, Sudheera D Shetty, Vanishree N Shetty, Shyna G Shetty, Surekha Rai. Events such as fancy dress contest, Chenne mane, weaving the coconut leaf (madal), lifting the shakthikall and many more were the main attraction.
While the ladies were busy organizing games, korikatta (cock fight) was held which made everyone nostalgic as this was the first time it has been organized in the Gulf. It was a fight organized without torturing the cocks and won by Ashok Shetty Sohar and Ramanand shetty.
In the evening a variety of traditional costume competitions were held.
Finale: Balindra Pooja, Tulasi Pooja, Nalike Bajane and Daiva Nema (Kola) were the events conducted in the concluding part of the day's events.
In the background of a beautiful sunset, Balindra Pooja (invocating King Balindra) was symbolically performed bringing back cherished memories of childhood and a bygone era of farming. Eventually Tulasi Pooja was performed to aesthetically decorated Tulasi Brindavana, followed by the mesmerizing Nalike Bhajans. An enthralling Kangil dance was performed by Sudhin Shetty and team.
The programme culminated in a thrilling Nudi reciting contest and Daiva Nema by Nagesh Shetty Kinnigoly and team. It was a rare opportunity for the community members to witness this wonderful event. The programme concluded with traditional dinner at 8 pm which included Ganji, Balyar chatni, Pundi, Manjaleraygatti, Kori Gassi, Kudutasaar, Yettichatni and other splendours.
The guest of honour for the event was Sudhir Shetty, Perla, COO, Global Operations, UAE Exchange / Oman UAE Exchange who spoke at length for the need of such events in society to keep alive traditional values.
Shashidhar Shetty Mallar proposed the vote of thanks to the sponsors and patrons for their valuable support. He acknowledged all those who extended their support to make the event a grand success.
Bunt Pearl Jubilee celebrations:
In addition, Bunts of Oman have organised a grand, eventful sports fiesta 'Bunts Trophy' cricket and throwball tournament on October 13 at Sidab grounds. This was thoroughly enjoyed by the members and well participated by a large number of bunt families residing in Oman. The tournament was inaugurated by Kalladi Shankar T Shetty, Diwakar K Shetty and Ganesh V shetty. The tournament was conducted under the able direction of Sathyaprasad Rai and Shashidhar Shetty Mallar.
The committee members, under the able guidance of convenor Shashidhar Shetty Mallar, conducted the event with excellence and devoted all their efforts towards the proceedings of the day long event. The whole event was meticulously organized by Saroja S Shetty and Shashidhar Shetty Mallar, Mallika S Shetty and Shankar T Shetty,
Sudheera D Shetty and Divakar K Shetty, Vanishree N Shetty and Nagesh Shetty, Shyna G Shetty and Ganesh V Shetty, Surekha S Rai and Sathyaprasad Rai.
Ethnic Sports meet in the Baraka Guthu style truly lived up to their expectations. Oman Buntara Mahotsava celebrations on November 17 will be held at the same venue followed by Yaksha Vaibhava by patla Satish Shetty team at Al Felaj Hotel,Ruwi, Muscat on November 18at 6.00 pm. The event is free and is open to all Yakshagana enthusiasts.