Manama (Bahrain), Oct 11: A vibrant celebration of cultural diversity, social harmony and humanism marked the 172nd birth anniversary of Sri Narayana Guru, as the grand social and cultural event ‘Tribute to Bahrain – The Confluence of Cultures, The Spirit of Humanism’ was held at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam auditorium on Friday, October 9, 2026.

Organised jointly by the Sri Narayana Guru Cultural Society (SNCS) and Guru Seva Samiti–Bahrain Billavas, the event brought together distinguished personalities and members of the community to celebrate cultural harmony, humanitarian values, the spirit of service and social unity. More than 1,200 people attended the programme, which combined ceremonial honours, cultural performances and a musical extravaganza.

 

The celebrations commenced with the divine presence and inauguration by Padma Shri awardee Brahmashri Visudhananda Swamiji. Dr Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, the newly appointed Ambassador of India to Bahrain, attended as the chief guest, lending further significance to the occasion.

B.K. Hariprasad, president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, and Chandy Oommen, a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, were present as guests of honour.

V. Jayashankar, chief executive officer and board member of Unico, and Mahesh Devji, managing director of Devji Group, were among the other distinguished personalities who attended the event.

Sri Narayana Guru Awards honour distinguished achievers
Recognising individuals for their notable accomplishments and contributions across different fields, the awards ceremony formed one of the highlights of the celebrations.

Gokulam Gopalan received the ‘Sri Narayana Guru Excellence Award 2026’, while K.G. Baburajan was honoured with the ‘Sri Narayana Guru Karmashreshta Award 2026’. Pambavasan Nair received the ‘Sri Narayana Guru Humanitarian Service Award 2026’, and V. Jayashankar was presented with the ‘Sri Narayana Guru Social Service Award 2026’.

In a further recognition of leadership and service to society, Pattaram Chandeliya, Ashok Kumar, Biswas Krishnanarayanan and Ambalathara Rajan were felicitated for their significant contributions and leadership.

Dance performances bring Indian cultural richness to the stage
The cultural programme added colour and vibrancy to the celebrations, with talented artistes from Bahrain Billavas and the Sri Narayana Guru Cultural Society presenting a range of captivating dance performances.

The performances showcased the richness and diversity of Indian culture, keeping the audience enthralled and offering a memorable artistic experience to those gathered.

Libin Zacharia, Keerthana S.K. enthral audience at musical night
With more than 1,200 people in attendance, the event culminated in a lively ‘Musical Night’, treating the audience to an evening of entertainment.

Renowned playback singer Libin Zacharia and singer Keerthana S.K. captivated the gathering with their musical performances, adding a fitting finale to the celebrations and further enhancing the festive atmosphere.

Guru’s ideals of equality, brotherhood take centre stage
Beyond its cultural grandeur, ‘Tribute to Bahrain’ underscored the enduring relevance of Sri Narayana Guru’s teachings on equality, humanism and brotherhood. The event reflected the Indian community’s commitment to social harmony and mutual respect within Bahrain’s multicultural environment.

The organisers extended their heartfelt gratitude to the dignitaries, community members, sponsors and all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the programme.

Bringing together cultural performances, recognition of distinguished achievers, music and humanitarian ideals, ‘Tribute to Bahrain’ concluded as a memorable celebration of unity and cultural harmony, reaffirming the values of equality, brotherhood and humanism championed by Sri Narayana Guru.