Mayura Award Bestowed on James Mendonca by Karnataka Sangha Sharjah
Pics by Ramcy Fernandes & Jovin D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Sharjah (VA)
Sharjah, May 15: The eighth annual celebrations and Mayura award-giving ceremony of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah was held at Gulf Asian English School auditorium here on Friday May 14.
Indian parliamentary member H Vishwanath and managing director, Zain International Hotel, Zafarullah Khan, the chief guests for the day inaugurated the programme on behalf of other guests present on the dais.
Kannada movie actor Harish Raj and playback singer Badri Prasad, Mark Denis D'Souza of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha, former president B K Ganesh Rai and Prabhakar Ambalatere were the guests of honour. Sharjah Karnataka Sangaha president Noel D’Almeida welcomed the gathering. Chief secretary Sugandh Raj Bekal gave a brief annual report of the Sangha activities. Uttahm Menezes compered the programme.
Later the prestigious Mayura award bestowed on eminent entrepreneur and social worker James Mendonca. He was honoured along with his wife Shobha Mendonca by the chief guests. Noel D’Almeida handed over the citation. James Mendonca spoke on the occasion and acknowledged the Sangha for honouring him.
Despite being great businessman, James Mendonca has served the society in many a ways. Many organizations have recognized his service and have honoured him. The Rachana Award-2008 of Mangalore Catholic Chamber of Commerce is one of the honours to his credit.
Member of Parliament H Vishwanath was felicitated on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion he said that when the people residing outside the motherland pay a visit to their homeland, they must make sure to pay a visit to the school where they were educated, the surroundings where they grew up. It will bring back fond memories, he added. He also lauded the activities of the sangha.
Sharjah Indian Association president Balakrishna wished all the success to the Sangha in their future endeavours. Harish Raj and Badari Prasad who came all the way from Karnataka to participate in the programme were also felicitated.
The main sponsor for the programme and the winner of Mayura award 2008, Zafarullah Khan was honoured. He said that such programmes foster love and affection among the Kannadigas. He stressed for the need of more such get-togethers. All the sponsors and media partners were honoured on the occasion.
As a means of entertainment an orchestra was organized on the occasion. A special team of talented singers and performers were specially invited from Karnataka to make the day memorable. The orchestra commenced with the song by Jagadish Shivapura. It was written by Arthur Pereira Omzoor as a tribute to veteran actor late Vishnuvardhan and Konkani singer the late Wilfy Rebimbus.
Member of Ganamela group- Jagadish Shivapura, who is popularly known as ‘Junior Raj Kumar’ enthralled the audience with his melodius voice. It was a huge treat to all the Raj Kumar fans. Raj Gopal of Stings music troupe, Mangalore, Jyotsna, Sandesh, Deepak Jayasheela, Max Karkada, Arun Carlo of Dubai, Shine, Binil and the eminent singer and mimicry artist Naveen Koppa, the participant of `Yede Thumbi Haduvenu' and Zee comedy Kiladigalu presented some mesmerizing Kannada and Hindi songs. The tendulkar cricket harikatha, a humorous act presented by Naveen Koppa was a major attraction.
`Maduve', a short Kannada play directed by Sampath Shetty was also presented on the occasion. Shiva Shetty, Akshatha Shiva Shetty, Ganesh Rai, Manjula Ganesh Rai, Shreelatha Hegde, Suvarna Sathish, Parija Anand won the hearts of the audience with their wonderful way of acting.
Alli Nodu Illi Nodu, a children’s dance performance, a dance by Gavin Joshua Rodrigues and Harsha Amin, a Konkani song by Jyotsna , a humorous act by Kasturi Moolimani and group, melodius hindi tracks by Harish Sherigar were also highly applauded by the crowd.
Lenny D’Souza felicitated all the members who were the part of orchestra and also Rajesh Kuttar for setting up a beautiful stage for the programme.
Various other dance shows by children added colours to the occasion and provided wholesome entertainment to the audience.
Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha president Sarvottham Shetty, Krishna Raja Tantri of Dubai Karnataka Sangha, Prakash Rao Payyar of Dwani pratishtana, Rajyotsava and Mayura award recipient Shekar Shetty, Ashok Shetty and the office-bearers of various organizations among others were present in large numbers on the occasion.
Sharjah Karnataka Sangha working committee members Mohammad Shahadha, Nityanand, Shashikanth Kanangi, Vishwanath Shetty, Yadav Kotiyan, Dinesh Acharya, Aanad Bailur, Raju Bhandary, Shantaram Achar, Giridhar Nayak, Jeevan Kukyan, Sathish Poojary, Sugand Raj Bekal and Vasanth Bekal among others are the people responsible for the success of the programme.