Report: Fr Victor Vijay Lobo
Pics: Premjith Martis

Mangalore, Aug 20: With the mission of promoting peace and harmony, Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education organized a unique dance programme ‘Nritya Sangama’ in collaboration with the department of Kannada and culture, Government of Karnataka, on Saturday August 18 at Sandesha.

Three different forms of dances - Kathak, Mohiniyattam and Bharathnatayam - were presented by internationally famed artists Sweekrith from Bangalore, Mary Bini from Alvas Collge, Moodbidri and Vani Rajgopal from Sandesha College of Fine Arts respectively.

The programme was presided over by Bishop Henry D’Souza, the Bishop of Bellary and the present chairman of Sandesha Foundation and Dr M Mohan Alva, president of Alva’s foundation for Education, was the chief guest. They along with the dancers inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp.
 
Addressing the gathering, Dr Alva said, “Our country is blessed with eight different forms of classical dances. These need to be promoted and our younger generation need to show interest in classical dance forms.”

Bishop Henry D’Souza, in his presidential address, paid homage to the dancers. He said,”Art is the great gift given to us by God. God is the source all art, because God is beauty.” He also added that art and culture should cross the barriers of religion. “As APJ Abdul Kalam says ‘Art is like the garden’, we need to be the bridges between these flower gardens,”he quoted.

Fr Jayapraksh, principal of Sandesha College of Fine Arts welcomed the gathering. Fr Victor Vijay Lobo, director of Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education proposed the vote of thanks and Sr Flona B S compered the programme.