Daijiworld Media Network—Karkala (RD)
Karkala, Feb 2: Kurpady Yuvavranda organized ‘Gramotsav’ and conferred the Gramotsav Youth Awards during a function held at Kurpady Bobbarya temple, Ajekar, recently.
The Gramotsav has been held here for more than a decade, to promote equality among people of diverse faith and religions, caste and creed, without gender discrimination, and to identify inherent talent and acknowledge the extraordinary contributions in their respective spheres.
MLA Gopal Bhandary conferred the award on Yakshagana artiste Umesh Shetty Ajekar, organizer B K Ramesh Ajekar, educationist Snehalata T G Acharya Hebri, teacher Malati Prabhu Ajekar, lecturer Sunita Nayak Kurpady, lawyer S A Sharief, musician Rajesh Shetty, sculptor Yelagoli Jayakar Acharya, social activist Akashabettu Krishna Shetty and Gramotsav child prodigy award to Bharatanatyam artiste Ayana V Raman who has been staging dance shows in the neighbourhood.
Pattabiram Sullia staged mimicry and a variety entertainment programme was staged by Rajesh Bhat and group.
Daijiworld reporter Shekar Ajekar held a photography exhibition titled ‘Virasat Varnasiri’, at the venue. Ajekar, the founder of Kurpady Gramotsav, that has inspired coastal residents to organize such celebrations elsewhere in their locality got married at the same venue.
All India Tulu Federation president Sangli Divakar Shetty inaugurated Gramotsav and said that Tulunadu culture will be sustained in villages for posterity.
Swami Esha Vittaldas of Kemaru Mutt, in his message to the gathering, said that Kurpady Yuvavranda has been organizing Gramotsav to preserve Tulunadu culture at a time when people barter culture for mobile handsets. He said that the Indian family system needs to be strengthened shunning caste, creed, and religion. He also expressed his concerns over rising cases of divorce that were rare in Tulunadu in the past.
MLA Gopal Bhandary said that a stronger India will emerge if the citizens shun caste, creed, and religion.
Ajekar parish priest Fr Kiran Pinto also spoke on the occasion. The temple priest Purandar Purohit performed the rituals.
Entrepreneur Sanoor Keshav Acharya distributed farming accessories to the peasants during the programme.
Kurpady Yuvavranda honorary president and ZP former vice-president Dr Santosh Kumar Shetty, ZP member Mamata Harish Adikari, Kurpady Gramotsav founder journalist Shekar Ajekar, Soumyasri Shekar Ajekar, president Kurpady Damodar, Kurpady Shankar Acharya, Girija Shankar Acharya, Varanga Vidhya Acharya, Borgallugudde Manjunat, Moodbidri SKF education Foundation chairman Ramakrishna Acharya, MLA Abayachandra Jain, Tahsildar K Muralidar, and journalist Dhananjay Moodbidri were present on the occasion.
Borgallugudde Manjunat proposed the vote of thanks while Varanga Vidhya Acharya compered the programme.