Udupi: Kavita Fest 2012 - Getting Soaked in the Spirit of Poetry
Pics by Anil Alva/Stanly Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jan 9: Kavita Fest 2012, held on Sunday January 8, proved to be a true carnival of poetry for all those who were waiting eagerly to get soaked in its intoxication. The presence of such a large retinue at the poetry fest gave the first impression that it is going to be a worthy day, to be in the embrace of nature playing the host to get showers of poetry and needless to say it was worthy spending every minute in such a milieu.
Mudartha House, Monnu Master’s courtyard at Kattingeri in Moodublelle proved to be the perfect venue for this festival as it was sizzling like a bride in all its grandeur, grace, allure and its irresistible charm. And all those who were a witness to this unique festival experienced a novation, something which they would cherish for a lifetime.
Kavita Fest began with a bright note in the morning as the guests were taken on a procession from Nalkubeedi (four streets) to Monnu Master’s courtyard accompanied to the sounds of firecrackers and traditional music. The dignitaries were received by Gurkar and Gurkarn (dressed in traditional attire) with panpod udak, a common feature among Konkani households earlier. With the arrival of the guests the programme was formally begun with a prayer song followed by a local Marathi dance by a group from Pernankila. An all women Chende team from Alevoor was another attraction of the inauguration programme. Secretary of Kavita Trust Kishoo Barkur welcomed the guests. Eminent poet Ramesh Veluskar inaugurated the fest by tossing rose petals along with Kavita Trust President Melvyn Rodrigues, Secretary Kishoo Barkur and host Ronald Saby D'Souza.
Eminent personalities like Basti Vaman Shenoy, Daijiworld.com Editor-in-Chief Walter Nandalike, Vally Vagga, Hemacharya, H M Pernal, Oswald D Souza, Lena Rego, Maxim Lobo, Rons Bantwal, Ramesh Pai and members of the Reception Committee of Bellevision Dr Eugene D Souza, Peter Paul Lobo, Elias D Souza, Meera Lobo and many other dignitaries were also invited to the stage.
Ramesh Veluskar speaking on the occasion congratulated the organizers for this unique festival of poetry saying “he has not seen such a big festival of poetry anywhere so far”. Tracing the history of poetry back to the days when man was a nomadic he said “poetry began when man was not talking and when he was wandering in the forest. Omkar can be described as the first dance or poetry. Konkani poetry began with mother’s lullaby “kuru kuru kanani… moshi gelyo ranani”. By using the folk form we have built a strong foundation for Konkani. Today’s young poets have the responsibility of taking forward this tradition”. To the poets Veluskar said “the future is bright like a light and this light should be used to awaken people and the society”.
Poetry and Art
Inaugural session was followed by a symposium on “poetry and art and the various forms of manifestations”. William Pais and Rakhi Amonkar presented their views in this symposium which was presided over by Sridhar Kamat Bombolkar. Moderator Bombolkar opined that principal of rhythm was responsible for art and poetry. He also said there is aesthetic pleasure, a kind of highest delight one receives from poetry. He also said there is always a connection between art and life experiences and cautioned that freedom of expression should not be used to hurt the religious sentiments of others.
Novelty is invariably associated with Kavita Fest and keeping in tune with this tradition poetry reciting competition was held for youngsters for the first time in Kavitha Fest. 20 youngsters from Karnataka and Goa had qualified to participate in the final after passing through the preliminary rounds. But only 18 participated in the final competition held on the occasion. These participants were judged on various aspects of posture and style, articulation and dramatization, voice modulation, level of difficulty etc,. during the recitation. This competition has been named after the sponsors Lavita and Rohan Monteiro - All India Konkani Poetry reciting competition and it proved to be a girls show as all the three winners were girls. Siddhi T Shet was declared the winner and Richa Kalangutkar and Jeniffer Menezes was the first and second runner up respectively.
Multi Lingual Poetry Session
The post lunch session began with multi-lingual poetry session in which 10 poets of different languages participated. Rajay Pawar, a young and prominent poet and writer from Goa presided over the poetry session. Poets Muddu Moodubelle, B A Mohammed Ali, Sannu Monis, Bhotam Boliye, Dr Eugene D Souza, Guru Baliga, Shobha Fulkar, P J Karugalnade, Kavitha D Fondekar And Milan Vaingankar recited their poems.
For the evening programme Dr Kiran Budkuley, Associate Professior, English Department, Goa University was the chief guest. Melvyn Rodrigues and Kishoo Barkur escorted Kiran, Regina and Bernard D Souza, Lavita and Rohan Monteiro to the dais. Welcoming the guests Melvyn Rodrigues said from the lukewarm response received to Kavita fest in the initial stages, it has now grown in stature and like a bride she shines in all her splendor and glory every year. He said that the satisfaction or the delight he gets in this festival is greater than any of the biggest awards he gets.
Talking about the new attempt of providing a forum for youngsters to pariticipate in poetry reciting competition he pointed out that the main aim of this competition is to inculcate a kind of love for poetry or generate interest in it among more and more people.
Chief Guest Kiran Budkuley presented the Mathias Family poetry award 2011 to Shivananda Shenoy, Kottayam. Averyl Rodrigues read the citation of Shivananda Shenoy. He was presented with a cheque of Rs. 10, 000/-, citation and memento. Speaking after the award Shivananda Shenoy said “I have been a wanderer, a lost son who has been recognized by Kavita Trust. He credited P Ramesh Pai, who he said was the inspiration for writing Konkani poetry saying half of the award goes to Ramesh Pai.
Regina and Bernard D Souza presented prizes to the winners of the late Charles and Theresa Rodrigues Memorial All India Poetry writing competition. Second prize winner Daniel Fernandes, Goa and third prize Shifani DSouza, Bajpe received the prizes in person. First prize winner Anisha Naik Gaonkar from Goa could not make it for the function.
On this occasion two Konkani books – Aruna Rao’s “Sakshatkar” and Sannu Monis’ “Abolim” were released by the chief guest Dr Kiran Budkuley. Poet Antony Barkur introduced the poets to the audience. Lavita and Rohan Monteiro then distributed the prizes to the winners of the poetry recitation competition.
Kiran Budkuley in her speech said “in the last six years Kavita Trust has grown from a seed to a tree and in the next few years we will be able to savour its fruits. She congratulated the organizers for giving the Lokveda touch to this festival saying “lokveda is the foundation of Konkani”.
Describing poetry as something that has intrinsic value she asked budding poets to imbibe the twin qualities of ‘mantr’ and ‘tantr’. She also emphasized that poetry is a combination of 5 M’s – medium, metaphor, melody, meaning and metre. She said poet is not just a writer, he is the one who beautifies his writing by using words, decorating it with appropriate vocabulary and decorate it. She also hastened to add the “Kavita by itself is not a medium of performance”.
Bellevision, the co-organizers had a surprise felicitation for Melvyn Rodrigues, who has recently won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award for his Konkani book on poems “Prakrithicho Paas’. Kishoo Barkur read the citation and office bearers of Belle vision presented him with a shawl, flowers and citation.
Godwin D'Souza of Bellevision expressed his gratitude for the organizers for giving them the once in a lifetime opportunity to organize the fest. Melvyn Rodrigues presented flowers to the male and female representatives of Bellevision for their hard work and dedication to make this festival a grand occasion. Godwin D'Souza and group sang the prayer song at the beginning. Vithori Karkal, proposed a vote of thanks. Master of Ceremony Eric Soans conducted the proceedings impeccably and ensured the programmes are conducted according to the stipulated time.
The stage was then vacated for a special folk performance of Bihu songs and dance by Ranjit Kumar Gogoi and group from Assam under the banner `Loka – the many voices', sponsored by Sahitya Akademi. The group regaled the audience with their costume and also the songs.
The organizers had made elaborate arrangements for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the venue of the fest. Dedicated members of Bellevision were seen working incessantly to provide necessary arrangements for the delegates and participants. They had arranged a small exhibition of traditional varieties of eatables like pathrode, Kailolyo, Appe, veg mutlim, Patholli of various kinds – like patholi of turmeric, mangoe and other leaves.
On the whole this Kavita Fest took care of every need of the delegates and participants both in terms of sumptuous food and a huge shower of poetry for the connoisseurs of poetry.
With Kavita Fest becoming a real carnival of poetry, one can only wait for the year to move at rocket speed to give us one more opportunity to take us back into the world of poets and nature.
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