Kuwait: World Kannada Cultural Convention Kicks off in Style
Report & pics by Wilson Saldanha Shirthady/Kuwait and Paul Aranha
Kuwait, Novemeber 30: The grand world Kannada Cultural Convention was inaugurated in Kuwait under the presidentship of Rashtrakavi Shri G. S. Shivarudrappa On 30th Nov 2007 at Dr. Kamel Al-Rayees Auditorium of American International School, Kuwait. The event was hosted by Kuwait Kannada Koota (KKK) under the president ship of Sudhakar Shetty in association with Hridayavahini from Karnataka.
The historical colorful event started with lighting the lamp, Ganesh Pushpanjali, Patriotic kannada Song and warm welcome by KKK President Sudhakar Shetty. Honorable Rashtrakavi Shri G. S. Shivarudrappa was the convention president. The chief guests of the event were His excellency M. Ganapathi- Ambassador of Kuwait, Ahmed Al saleh- chairman KCS Kuwait, B.R.Shetty- Prominent Industrialist Abudhabi, C.T Ravi- MLA, Dr. K.A.Ashok pai and Mahesh Joshi. K.P.Manjunath sagar- President Cultural committee delivered the introductory speech.
Eminent personalities of Karnataka were honored with traditional shawl, memento and flower bouquets after the speech of convention president Rashtrakavi Shri G. S. Shivarudrappa and the chief guests. Sri.C.R.Simha, a well know Kannada actor, Sandhya Pai, Editor of Kannada Magazine Taranga, Manasi Prasad Carnatic singer and Classical dancer, H. Rangayya (Social Service), Prakash Payyar Dubai (service to Kannada), Rangashree (Dance), Sahana Bhat (Bharatha Natya) and Chudamani Ramachandra (Dollu Kunitha) were among the honored. B. Ganesh Rao Bangalore delivered vote of thanks.
Cultural Programs were conducted throughout the event by famous visiting teams from Karnataka Guru.Smt.Rangashree, Kinkini- Bangalore(Accompanied by : Vocal : Vidwan Mohan Puty, Natuvanga : Ashrith Mallur and Abhijit Mallur, Mridangam : Vidwan V.R.Chandrashekar, Flute : Vidwan H.S.Venugopal ), Natyanjali Bharatanatya Shale- Sirsi (Vidushi Smt. Sahana Pradeep Bhat, Radhakrishna Nayak, Ramya C R, Vijetha Bhandary, Mahima Mahabaleshwara Hegde, Mangala Ashok Bhat, Bhumika Ashok Bhat), Bhava Ghana - Singers Team(Smt. Chandrika Gururaj, Sri. Kikkeri Krishnamurthy, Aravinda Patil - Qatar ( Dr. Raj Geethegalu), Smt. Vrinda Rao, Kumari Shardda, Vachanagalu), Doddata Tanda (Bellary), Manjushri Balaga- Sirsi (Kum. Manjushree, Meghana Jagannath, Kavyashree Rao), Jaya Natyakala Academy- Kolar (Vidwan Kolar Ramesh, Kum. Shwetha, Kum. Vanitha, Kum. Sneha sharma, Kum. Sowmya, Kum. Prathibha), Drama -Qatar Kannada Sangha, Solo : Kavya Shree Rao, D. Keshava , Switzerland - Solo Dance, Doddata ( Palakshaiah, Chidanandaiah). Local artists from different association also entertained the audience by their unique mind blowing performances.
The entertainment part was consists of Chappale Chappale, kaveri,
EE Nadu Namma Nadu, Galipata, history of North Karnataka, dance drama,
Bharatha Darshana, nrithya Vaibhava, Dashavathara, folk dance, comedy show, Comedy drama, doddata, dollu kunita, etc.
The convention held discussion Forum on topics like Poetry/Health/Media/Industry and Humor with typical Kannada titles Kavi gosti - Presided by Sri. Manu Baligar, Maadhyama gosti Presided by E.V.Satyanarayana, Vaidyakeeya gosti - Presided by Dr. Padmini Prakash, Hasya gosti - Presided by Dr. Putturaya, Puttur, Udyama gosti - Presided by Sri. M.B. Jayaram.
The audience had a grand rasadauthana as lunch and dinner with vegetarian delicacies of Karnataka. This is happening first time in Kuwait’s history that more than 165 guests and artists from outside Kuwait participating in one single program.
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