Media Release

Muscat, Nov 30: The Bunts community in Oman marked a momentous milestone on November 15, celebrating its 35th anniversary with a vibrant cultural event that brought together around 1,000 members from across Oman, including regions such as Salalah, Barka, Nizwa, and Sohar.

The grand celebrations culminated in the BOSS (Bunts of Oman Sanskrutika Saammilana) event, held at Buntara Bhavana, Barka Guttu, reflecting the unity, strength, and cultural richness of the community.

The year-long celebrations began with a series of significant events, including the Ugadi Bishu festival on April 14 and the Annual Sports Meet on October 4 at Al Hail Sports Ground. A highlight of the celebrations was the KGF (Kesarugadde Gold Fields) event on October 25 at Barka Guttu, which featured traditional ethnic sports, including challenging muddy paddy field games. Additionally, the creation of the traditional Buntara Bhavana 'Barka Guttu' served as an important cultural milestone, helping preserve the community’s roots and instilling cultural awareness in younger generations.

The anniversary event began with a Muhurta function and Poorna Kumbha Swagata, where the women of the community performed a warm and traditional welcome, accompanied by rhythmic beats of pancha-vaadya and offerings of hore-kaanike. This was followed by the lighting of a lamp by the organising committee and a prayer session from sacred texts. Shashidhar Shetty Mallar, one of the key organisers, welcomed the gathering and highlighted the importance of the 35th anniversary in preserving and revitalizing the Bunts' cultural traditions.
Ganesh Shetty addressed the audience, stressing the importance of preserving cultural heritage. The event was hosted by Sahil Rai, who entertained the crowd with his wit and spontaneous humor, keeping the event engaging.

The celebration featured traditional rituals such as the "Bunta Upahara," followed by ceremonies involving Mangaluru mallige (jasmine flowers), haldi kumkum, and the sprinkling of panneer, which helped connect younger members of the community to their rich cultural legacy. The Mogasaale at Barka Guthu was beautifully decorated with marigold flowers, mango leaves, and a theme logo symbolizing the revival of long-lost traditions.

Guests were treated to an array of traditional dishes, starting with breakfast, followed by a hearty lunch served on banana leaves, and evening refreshments. The buffet dinner featured a wide range of Bunts’ ethnic vegetarian and non-vegetarian specialties, expertly supervised by Shashidhar Shetty Mallar to ensure an authentic culinary experience.

The evening’s entertainment included skits, folk dances, group performances, an orchestra, and ballet, all presented by BOSS members and their children. These performances, showcasing the vibrant culture of Tulunadu, captivated the audience and received enthusiastic applause.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the Oman Bunta Ratna Award to Shashidhar Shetty Mallar and Diwakar Shetty Mallar for their unwavering commitment to humanitarian service. The award recognized their selfless efforts to uplift those in need, regardless of race or creed, and celebrated their exceptional contributions to society.

The grand finale of the evening was a stunning Yakshagana ballet titled Bunta Beere Devu Poonje, performed by Rajendra M Shetty and his talented team of BOSS members. The performance, the result of just three months of intense training, was a testament to their dedication to preserving and promoting traditional art forms.

Winners of various competitions were honoured during the event, and elders and parents of Bunts members visiting Oman were also felicitated by the organizing committee.

The BOSS 2024 organizing committee, comprising Saroja S Shetty, Shashidhara Shetty Mallar, Sudheera D Shetty, Diwakar Shetty Mallar, Shaina G Shetty, Ganesh Shetty, Vanishree N Shetty, Nagesh Shetty Kinnigoly, Shreya M Shetty, Manoj Jayaram Shetty, Anusha S Rai, Shishir Rai, Suraksha H Rai, and Harshith Rai, successfully coordinated and executed this grand celebration.

The entire event was a grand success, embodying the spirit of unity and togetherness of the Bunts community. It concluded with a vote of thanks by Vanishree N. Shetty and a closing speech by Shashidhar Shetty Mallar, reflecting on the success of the day and reinforcing the importance of preserving and promoting the Bunts' cultural heritage for future generations. The attendees left with fond memories, eagerly anticipating the next gathering.