Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore(SI/CN)

Mangalore, Dec 4: The Mangalore chapter of the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) will be conducting the organization’s 27th national convention from May 28, 2012 to June 3, 2012. The event will be hosted by NITK Suratkal.

“As a part of this, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt will give a performance on his famous ‘Mohan Veena’ on Monday December 5 at Sharada Vidyalaya, Kodialbail. It is the first time that a Mohan Veena concert is being held in Mangalore,” said Sandeep Sancheti of NITK, Surathkal.

Briefing the media on Saturday December 3, Sancheti said that the national convention of SPIC MACAY will be a week-long mega event with 30 workshops/intensives by well-known artists. He added that nearly 1,500 students from 200 Indian chapters of the organization will participate.

“Classical dance, folk dance and music, and other forms of art will feature in the workshops. Ten renowned craftsmen will be from the state and the coastal region. And Yakshagana make-up and puppetry will be introduced and the ‘Dollu Kunitha’ will also to be performed. So, the national convention will be a ‘Karnataka convention’,” he added. Office-bearers Prof Gopal, Manikantha, and Seemaiah were present during the press meet.

SPIC MACAY-Mangalore chapter, is recognized as an ideal place for budding artists and has been in existence since 1987. It has succeeded in creating awareness about traditional music and culture. NITK has helped organize more than 1,500 concerts in 250 institutions across coastal Karnataka and Malnad districts.

The organization has been awarded the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Puraskar of this academic year for its service to communal harmony, national integration, and peace. Its founder chairman Dr Kiran Seth was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ by the Government of India.