Ajman: Karnataka Sangha Sharjah Celebrates 9th Year with Elan
News and Pics: Jovin Pangala
Daijiworld Media Network - Ajman
Ajman, May 14: The 9th annual celebrations of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah turned out to be a grand, historic affair, with a memorable programme that was presented with dignity and grace, here on Friday May 13. The highlight of the event was that it was purely in Kannada, conveying a message of unity and peace.
Masters of ceremony Uttam and Rohini added panache to the programme with their rich voice, and invited and introduced guest Kannadiga film music director Gurukiran on to the stage along with the Karnataka Sangha Sharjah’s Patron Mark Denis, president Mohamed Shahada Noor, vice-president Yadav Kotian, general secretary Sugandh Raj Bekal and other executive members. Gurukiran hoisted the Karnataka flag to a rendition of 'Jai Bharata Jananiya Thanujathe' and inaugurated the morning session. Yadav Kotian welcomed the guest and the audience, and Gurukiran spoke a few words of praise for the Kannadigas in UAE.
The welcome song was by Mogacha Lahra, directed by Vincent Fernandes and and sung by Brian Tony Fernandes, Savannah D’Mello, Lester Furtado, Maria Furtado, Aaron D’Cunha, Nigel D’Silva, Rachel Coelho, Keith Gabriel Furtado, Shannon D’Souza and Priyanka Melissa Mendonca.
Aishwarya Rai and Anusha Shetty presented a beautiful welcome dance. Aishwarya, daughter of ex-president Ganesh Rai was felicitated as she is on the verge of leaving to India for further studies. She was honoured with ‘Sanmana Pathra’, a memento and a certificate by Noel D’ Almeida, ex-president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah.
‘Kunidhado Krishna’ a classical dance performance was performed by Neha Harishchandra Acharya creatively and was well applauded.
A rich folk dance in praise of Goddess Yellamma normally performed by people living in Karnataka-Maharashtra border area during auspicious occasions was enacted by Sanmata Hegde, Raksha Salian, Shravya Prasad, Shweta Satish, Purvi Karkera, Vineet Poojary, Shravan Poojary, Mayur Salian and Manashweta Salian who also did the choreography.
Another classical performance was by Shruti Poojary, daughter of Satish Poojary who danced to Shankar Mahadevan’s ‘Breathless’ song. She was also felicitated for her continued contribution to dance and also because she will be leaving to India for further studies. Joint secretary, B M Dinesh Achar presented Shruti with ‘Sanmana Pathra’ and a memento.
‘Gollara Nritya’ was another dance number choreographed by Rajesh Kuthar, well presented by Kiran Shetty, Soujanya Shetty, Shobha Shetty, Prasad Shetty, Rajesh Kuthar, Manohar Hegde, Chitra Shetty and Pawana Shetty.
A comedy skit by ‘Sangon Mugdana’ troupe of Pradeep Barboza and Deepak Paladka had the audience in splits of laughter.
Bhasker Rai Kurvalli took over as MC along with Rohini for the next part of the programme, which was the grand finale of the ‘Mayura Raja’ and ‘Mayura Rani’ singing contest. Judges Gurukiran, Herman Lewis, Raviraj Tantry and Vijayalakshmi were invited to the stage and honoured with shawls. The rules of the competition were briefed and the finalists Jasmine Sanctis, Asha Fernandes, Bharathi Acharya, Alwyn Mendonca, Vinay Adiga and Krishna Prasad Rao were called upon on the stage for the solo singing round. All the singers presented beautiful, melodious numbers, much to the delight of the audience.
At around 1.30 pm a sumptuous buffet lunch was served and during this break some local talents performed a few lovely Kannada and Hindi numbers.
The afternoon session was inaugurated again in a different style with the chief guests and special guests being escorted in a procession by ‘Pancha Vaadya’ live musicians playing drums and horns. Chief guest, Justice Santosh Hegde, ambassador to UAE M K Lokesh, Padmashri Dr B R Shetty, businessman Zaffarulla Khan Mandya, Lion's International MGF Kishore Rao, Sharjah Indian Association president Balakrishnan and Kannada film music director Gurukiran were all invited to the stage by the members and welcomed with shawls.
With the song “Hachevu Kannadadha Deepa’ playing in the background, the guests lighted the traditional lamp and inaugurated the afternoon part of the programme. While president Mohamed Shahada Noor gave a welcome speech welcoming the guests.
Mayura Award
Karnataka Sangha Sharjah’s unique and prestigious ‘Mayur Prashashti’ presentation was again done in a very grand manner. There was a computer screen clipping displaying ‘memories of Shodhan’ with some of the shots of his various achievements and performances, which were thoroughly enjoyed by the audience who whistled and clapped all along the brief presentation. The unanimously chosen awardee of this year for the contribution to social service, Shodhan Prasad along with his wife Sandhya Shodhan and children Nindiya Prasad and Shravya Prasad were escorted from the main entrance by ‘Pancha Vaadya’ live musicians playing drums and horns in a procession, with children dressed in Kannada colours and waving flags, cheered by the audience with whistles and claps.
KSS’s Ganesh Rai took over the charge and presented the formal function in his unique style. Shodhan and Sandhya were invited to be seated in a special chair and chief guest Justice Santosh Hegde honoured them with a shawl while M K Lokesh crowned Shodhan with Mysore Peta (headgear), Zaffarulla Khan presented a bouquet, Mark Denis offered a basket of fruits, Dr B R Shetty presented the Award and president Mohamed Shahada Noor presented the ‘Sanmana Pathrike’.
Shodhan in response to the felicitation spoke briefly and expressed his gratitude to the Sangha for identifying and chosing him. He said that he got involved in social service with the guidance of his father and carried on with his selfless service to the community without any expectation of award. He thanked his family for the support and also thanked all his friends and well wishers who guided him in his duties. He said he was really blessed on receiving the award from an honest and anti-corruption activist Justice Santosh Hegde who is also a true gentleman.
Later vice-president Yadav Kotian along with his wife Shailaja Kotian and hismother were invited to the stage and felicitated in a similar manner.
A beautiful attractive brochure briefing the achievements of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah’s yesteryears was released by Santosh Hegde while the presentation was played on the digital screen. Copies of the brochure were later distributed to the guests and audience as well.
Ambassador to UAE M K Lokesh was honoured by Justice Santosh Hegde who presented a shawl, while Dr B R Shetty who crowned Yadav with Mysore Peta, Zaffarulla Khan who presented a bouquet, Mark Denis whooffered a fruit basket and Gurukiran who presented the memento and president Mohamed Shahada Noor who presented the ‘Sanmana Pathrike’.
Acknowledging the felicitation M K Lokesh spoke a few words in Kannada, requesting the audience to tolerate his fluency in the language. He also said that he just had completed 2 years whereas there are many Kannadigas who are serving in UAE for more than 20 years who really deserve an award for their contribution to Karnataka.
Padmashree Dr B R Shetty was also felicitated in the same manner. Speaking in response to the honour, he said that he is also a Kannadiga member of the Sangha and not a guest as was introduced earlier. He praised Justice Santosh Hegde for his great work and his contribution in the crusade against corruption. While wishing Justice Hegde for his role in Lokpal he thanked Noor Mohammed, father of KSS president Mohamed Shahada for inviting Hegde to be the chief guest of the programme.
Businessman Zaffarulla Khan Mandya too was felicitated a shawl, Mysore Peta, a bouquet by Ln Kishore Rao, a fruit basket, a memento the ‘Sanmana Pathrike’. Zaffarulla Khan spoke well in Kannada.
Another guest Ln Kishore Rao was also felicitated in the same way, so also Sharjah Indian Association president Balakrishnan, Kannada music director Gurukiran and Justice Santosh Hegde.
Justice Santosh Hegde in his address spoke on his fight against corruption, the inner barricades in the political system, how the governments and the parties try to resist their move and the difficulties faced by Lokpal in the current scenarios. He briefed about his personal interest in the fight against corruption and also said that he does not own any property anywhere in the world except for the small apartment he where he stays. He said corruption is a non-curable contagious disease which needs to be kept miles away and requested every citizen of the world to keep themselves away from those people who are inflicted by this disease.
All the sponsors of the event were invited on to the stage and honoured with mementos, presented by the chief guest.
Noor Mohd Mulki, presidents of various Karnataka Sanghas and Bhasker Rao Kurvalli were then invited on to the stage and felicitated with shawls, bouquets and mementos.
It was then time for cultural programmes, with Pushpanjali and Yashoda Krishna Nritya beautifully and gracefully performed by Vidhushi Dr Srividya Murlidhar and Abhudaya Krishna. Later, Vincent presented another meaningful Tulu song on the stage and simultaneously on the digital screen display, creatively produced and performed by Mogacha Lahra team with Vincent, Brian Tony Fernandes, Savannah D’Mello, Lester Furtado, Maria Furtado, Aaron D’Cunha, Nigel D’Silva, Rachel Coelho, Keith Gabriel Furtado, Shannon D’Souza, Priyanka Melissa Mendonca, Jacintha Fernandes, Isak Vas, Joe Oswald D’Souza, Roy Vijay D’Silva, Gretta D’Silva, Maria D’souza, Clara D’Cunha and Clotty Coelho.
The duet session of the ‘Mayura Raja’ and ‘Mayura Rani’ contest continued, with the participants presenting and singing along with their co-singers in a different style. All through the singing the main judge, Gurukiran gave them some useful tips while marking their shortcomings and areas of improvement.
While the judges were busy with the final markings, the stage was occupied with cultural activities, with ‘Kamsale’, a vibrant dance choreographed by Rajesh Kuthar. The participants were Rajesh Kuthar, Usha Shetty, Veena Shetty, Hema Shetty, Sushma Shetty, Mahesh Shetty, Satish Shetty, Prakash Shetty, Chethan Shetty, Sandeep Shetty, Sunil Shetty, Ritesh Shetty, Nitesh Shetty, Santhosh Shetty, Prashant and Sudhir.
A classical dance ‘Jai Janaki Ramana’ followed, beautifully presented by Vidhushi Sapna Kiran.
Mayura Raja and Mayura Rani
Gurukiran said that it was a very difficult task for all the judges to finalize, as all the three couples were equally good in one way or the other.
The following were the winners:
Title Winners
Mayura Raja - Vinay Adiga
Mayura Rani - Asha Fernandes
First runner-up - Krishna Prasad Rao (male)
- Bharathi Acharya (female)
Second runner-up - Alwyn Mendonca (male)
- Jasmine Sanctis (female)
Herman Lewis of Radio Spice 105.4 FM had earlier announced that he would present a special award for the best entertaining couple and it was unanimously won by Alwlyn Mendonca and Jasmine Sanctis. They were presented with a memento by Herman Lewis.
All the winners were presented with a crown and honoured by Gurukiran, and also presented with mementos, sash prizes, gift watches by Jayaram Rai, Sapil gift hampers and Chilly Willy gift hampers by the respective executives. Ravish Gowda presented the sash to Mayura Raja while Harish Sherigar presented the sash to Mayura Rani. The first runner-up and the second runner up were also presented with mementos, and Sapil and Chilly Willy gift hampers.
The judges were thanked with mementos. Also, Vincent Fernandes (mentor), Rajesh Kuthar (choreography), Prasad Rai (sound and lights) and Naveen Sequeira (computer digital display) were presented with mementos in appreciation of their hard work.
Laxmi Surya Kumar choreographed and presented a beautiful dance along with Swathi Hegde, Meenakshi Menon, Sree Lakshmi Krishnakumar, Laxmi Vinod, Diya Soman, Tanishi Patel and Sinchana Hebbar.
A filmy dance with Kannada and Hindi mix was presented by Sanmatha Suresh Hegde and Niriksha Suresh Ganiga.
All the participants of the programme were awarded certificates and mementos by various executive members of the Karnataka Sangha Sharjah.
General secretary Sugandhraj proposed the vote of thanks while Raju Bhandary conducted the raffle draw.
On the whole, the day-long programme was well organized and smoothly conducted by the enthusiastic members of the Karnataka Sangha Sharjah.