Shodhan Prasad
Pics : Praveen Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Feb 28: 'Tuluva Siri Isira 2015' hosted by Tulusiri Dubai at Indian Club Dubai on Friday the February 27 was an event to be remembered, witnessed by a large number of Tuluvas from all over the Gulf. The day-long programme cultural festival commenced at 11.30 am with guests being received in traditional umbrella and Kalasha parade by a group of ladies.
District Rajyotsava awardee Dr Y N Shetty of Udupi who is well-known for his research work in Tulu along with other guests were invited on to the stage by popular MC Navin Shetty Edmar of Namma TV fame. A welcome dance was presented by Sparsha.
President B K Padmaraj Yekkar welcomed the guests of honour and the audience. The ceremony was later inaugurated by Dr Y N Shetty by lighting the traditional lamp along with Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha president Sarvotham Shetty, Fortune Group of Hotels MD Praveen Shetty, editor-in-chief of Daijiworld Walter Nandalike, Karnataka Sangha Sharjah president Satish Venkataramana, Sprayteck Contracting Co MD Ramachandra Hegde, Acme Building Materials MD Harish Sherigar, president Padmaraj Yekkar and other dignitaries. Later executives of various other Karnataka based Sanghas were invited to light the earthen lamps that added an extra touch of Tulu tradition to the inaugural.
President Yekkar welcomed all the guests and Tuluvas and briefed them on the day's programme.
Walter Nandalike released Tulu books and CDs that have been made available for Tuluvas in the Gulf. Walter later along with the other guests opened up the 'Kalpavriksha Flower' marking the beginning of day-long event.
On behalf of all the guests Sarvotham Shetty rendered the inaugural speech and while congratulating Tulusiri, he also said that every effort needs to be made to keep this Tulu organisation alive for more than a decade.
Walter Nandalike spoke on the Tulu language, the importance of the language and also shared a few of his anecdotes of India. He appreciated the efforts of the organisers and wished them good luck.
Chief guest Dr Y N Shetty spoke on Tulunadu and enlightened the audience on how vast was Tulunadu around 60,000 years ago and how and what made it shrink to the current size. He also shed light on the richness of the language, tradition, culture and ethnicity, and spoke at length on food habits, preparation, ingredients of Tuluva food which in any form contain medicinal benefits especially for women. He expressed concerns that Tuluva tradition, culture and food habits are fading away and people are being attracted towards globalization. He shared his vast knowledge and urged Tuluvas to keep the language and culture alive by contributing in whatever way they could. He took the example of the Tulusiri programme and appreciated the organisers for hosting such an event.
Shodhan Prasad felicitated
Social worker Shodhan Prasad was felicitated along with his wife Sandhya Shodhan for his contribution to the field of Tulu culture in this part of the world especially for the success of Tuluvere Parba 2012 under his leadership, his contribution to the field of Tulu drama, and for
the superhit first international Tulu film 'Nirel' produced by him last year which won appreciation with four awards during the recent Cinemotsava Awards and Special Award during the First Tulu Film Awards, both held in Mangaluru. Tulusiri Dubai recognised his contribution and felicitated him with shawl, bouquet, fruit bowl, citation and memento. Shodhan in return thanked Tulusiri Dubai for the felicitation and shared his honour with all those who have supported him in his work.
Other programmes
B K Ganesh Rai, one of the well-known promoters of Tulu language in the Gulf, presided over 'Bhashey Siri', a truly meaningful oratory programme which had Manohar Thonse from Abu Dhabi, and Nanu Marol, Sudharshan Hegde and Padmaraj Yekkar (supported by Naveen Shetty) from Dubai as speakers. All of them beautifully covered subjects relating to Tulu literature, culture, language, poetry, comedy, drama, Yakshagana and cinema in their respective discussions on Tulu language.
Later, Ganesh Rai along with Tulusiri president Padmaraj Yekkar handed over a book of records relating to the various cultural events held in the Gulf over the last three decades and more to guest Dr Y N Shetty. At the end, all the speakers were honoured with mementos. Dr Y N Shetty praised the efforts and advised briefly on the future action to be taken in order to maintain the spirit of Tulu language in the Gulf.
Lunch break was announced and people savored sumptuous buffet lunch. During the lunch break 'Sangeetha Siri' was held, coordinated by musician Arun Carlo and group. Melodious Tulu songs were rendered by singers Dony Correa, Preema Rodrigues, Asha Correa and Sandra D'Souza which enthralled the gathering. Adding spice to the entertainment were songs by Harish Sherigar who performed a few solos, duets and medley of some melodious Tulu numbers including 'Mokeda Singari'.
'Tulu Naada Vaibhava', a cultural dance show presented by Ganesh Shetty Bailoor and group was appreciated with good round of applause. This was choreographed by Jasmitha Vivek and performed by various artistes including Sparsha Shetty.
'Kabithe Siri' was then held, presided over by Irshad Moodubidre, Dubai. Poets Gopinath Rao from Sharjah, M E Moolur from Dubai, Robert Fernandes Udyavar from Dubai, Stany D'Souza Bela from Dubai, Arthur Pereira Omzoor from Dubai beautifully recited their poetry. They were all honoured with mementos at the end.
Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony was headed by Dr Y N Shetty and graced by Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha president Sarvotham Shetty, Fortune Group of Hotels MD Praveen Shetty, editor-in-chief of Daijiworld Walter Nandalike, Chilli Willy Trading MD Satish Venkataramana, Sprayteck Contracting Co MD Ramachandra Hegde, Acme Building Materials MD Harish Sherigar, Dhwani Prathistana president Prakash Rao Payyar, Daiji Dubai founder president Dayan D'Souza and Impress Teck Co LLC MD Sudhir Kumar Raju Poojary.
At the end Navin Sequeira who ably handled the electronic display board and Joel of Broadway events who engineered with good sound system were honoured with mementos. All the media representatives were individually invited on to the stage and honoured with mementos.
Felicitations
Multi-talented personality Ganesh Rai, who has contributed to the field of art direction and Tulu culture in the UAE, and who is known as a writer, leader of association, promoter of Tulu and Kannada languages through his association with many Karnataka-based associations in the UAE, was felicitated along with his wife Manjula Ganesh Rai with shawl, bouquet, fruit bowl and memento. He was also felicitated for his role in designing the logo, invitation, stage setting etc for Tulusiri Dubai. Ganesh Rai in return thanked Tulusiri Dubai for the honour.
Well-known TV presenter Naveen Shetty Edmar who came all the way from Mangaluru to host the Tulusiri programme was appreciated very well by the audience for his inimitable, pure and fluent Tulu oratory. He was felicitated by Tulusiri Dubai with shawl, bouquet, fruit bowl and memento. Naveen thanked Tulusiri Dubai for the felicitation.
District Rajyotsava Awardee Dr Y N Shetty, chief guest who inaugurated the day's programme was later felicitated by president of Tulusiri Dubai Padmaraj Yekkar. Dr Y N Shetty, well-known for his research work in Tulu ably graced the function and received appreciation from the Tulu audience. He was honoured with shawl, bouquet, fruit bowl and memento. Shetty in return thanked Tulusiri Dubai for the felicitation.