Riyadh: KWAR’s Karavali Parba -2010 - Focus on Culture and Entertainment

by Arun Palimar

Riyadh, Nov 29: The annual get-together of Karavali Welfare Association Riyadh (KWAR), ‘Karavali Parba – 2010’, held on Friday November 26 here, proved to be a fun-filled event. A large crowd of 650 had come together to witness the programmes and be a part of this event. The crowd started coming in since around 8 am, and by noon, the hall was packed to capacity.

The programme was inaugurated by the association president, Ramesh Shetty, by lighting the lamp, along with other core committee members of KWAR.

In the morning session, traditional games like coconut fight (taraikatta), frog race, tug-of-war, pot-breaking, American housie, and the game of marbles, were organized. Special games for the children and the ladies were conducted by Amitha Royston Prabhu.

A free medical camp, which was sponsored by Santhosh Shetty, was set up by Kadesiah Medical Center[KMC] on this occasion. A majority of those present at the venue took advantage of this camp. Dr Vani conducted free dental examination, and special discount cards were distributed to every one. The McDonalds team entertained the children by doing face painting.

After the lunch break, the stage programme began with a prayer song, rendered by Chinna Fernandes, followed by welcome address, delivered by KWAR president, Ramesh Shetty, who briefed the crowd about the activities undertaken by KWAR, and read out the charity initiatives undertaken by the association during the year 2009-2010. He also mentioned about the help rendered by KWAR for the release of Rohidas in Dammam and Abdul Jabbar in Riyadh. He also placed before the gathering details of charity activities conducted back at Mangalore. He appreciated and thanked the members of the association for their hard work.

Vice president, Royston Prabhu, welcomed the sponsors to the dais, while Ramesh Shetty honoured them by handing over bouquets. P M Bhasker and Ronald Fernandes compered the programme.

A traditional programme, ‘Karvali Vaibhava’, based on folk arts of Tulunadu like Yakshagana, Aaatikallenja, Kambala,  and Santa Claus, were performed during the event.  The spectacular Tiger Dance (hulivesha) of coastal Karntaka, which was performed at the venue by local artistes, made the audience to stand on their toes. ‘Karnataka Vaibhava’ was conducted by Jayprakash Shetty, and the special song of Atikallenja was sung by him marvellously.

While the solo song ‘Amma’ rendered by Eden D’sa, made the crowd emotional, the children’s dance for the Kannada song, ‘Jinkemari’ made them joyous.

Michelle Mascarenhas, a grade one student, enthralled the audience by her first Bharathnatyam performance on stage. Varsha and Bhavya were at their best. An excellent performance by Shama and Pai also raised the spirits of the crowd.

Mahadev Shetty’s poetry, ‘Namma Kudla’ proved to be an instant hit with the audience. With his mellifluous voice, Muzaffar Ali brought back the memories of  the great playback singer, the late Mukesh, by singing ‘Neena Isika Nam Hai’. This won over the hearts of the crowd so much that they asked him to sing the song once more.

Eric D'Sa, cultural secretary of KWAR, along with his daughter, Eden D’sa, sang a duet, ‘Porluda Tulunadu’. Lancy Moras, Jeddah, sang his own composition, ‘Tulunadeda Namma Kudlaye’, accompanied by other singers from Riyadh. The audience lapped up his performance by rising to their feet and dancing all through his performance.
 
However, a skit titled, ‘Barber Babanna’ proved to be the best part of the programme. This skit, which was staged by KWAR artistes, was presented at the end. This comical skit made the people to laugh to their hearts content, because of comical punch lines and impeccable performances by the artistes. It was worth the wait for the people, as every dialogue of the skit was pregnant with comedy, and the entire skit proved to be very hilarious. The performances by Sathish, Bhasker, Rajesh, Jayaprakash, and Jagadish, were superb.

The best performers of the event were given awards by well-wishers. P M Bhasker got this award for his performance in the skit as a drunkard, while Eden D’sa received the award for her solo song, ‘Amma’. Lancy Moras was rewarded for presenting his own composition, ‘Namma Kudla’. The tiger dance team of Bonipas D’souza, Deepak, Stany Cardoza, Master Rikin Rajesh and Master Elton D’sa also got the award. Yakshagana artiste, Sathish Poojary, was the other performer who received the award.

In addition, all the participants of the programme were honoured with mementos and certificates by KWAR.

Eight free Air tickets were handed over to the lucky winners. These tickets were sponsored by different airlines like Jet Airways, Air Arabia, Fly Nasr and Air India.

Lunch, breakfast, snacks and beverages were provided during the event.

Sports secretary of the association, Prakash Shetty, announced the names of the winners, and prizes were distributed to KWAR volleyball tournament and cricket tournament winners.

While concluding the programme, general secretary of KWAR, Rajesh Kumar, proposed vote of thanks.

This event, which had a rich content of culture and entertainment of high calibre, a rarity in this city, drove home the message that unity has the potential to make anything and everything possible. Karavali Welfare Association Riyadh (KWAR), which was founded three years back in Riyadh, and has since been actively involved with social service activities in Saudi Arabia as well as back in Mangalore, has proved yet again that it draws full support from the people of coastal Karnataka settled in this part of the world.

KWAR has profusely thanked its valued sponsors for helping it make this event a grand success.

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