News and pictures: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 18: Vishwa Konkani Kendra (World Konkani Centre - WKC) was founded by Konkani Language & Cultural Foundation to serve as a hub to preserve, develop and propagate Konkani Language, Art & Culture involving all Konkani people world over.
This maiden World Konkani Convention convened at Mangaluru in the year 1995, under the leadership of Basti Vaman Shenoy (Konkani Sardar), was the defining moment which yielded impetus to the new dimension for Konkani movement. On the occasion, Konkani speaking people were gathered on a single platform postulating a sense of amity and brotherhood amongst them. This later manifested into establishing a World Konkani Centre at scenic Lobo Prabhu Nagar, Konkani Gaon, Shakti Nagar, Mangaluru, Karnataka, envisioned as a thriving epicenter. This is a place where Konkani people from any part of the world can legitimately be proud of to fulfill their aspirations in pursuit of rendering commendable services aimed at uplifting the society in the fields of Konkani art, education, folklore, theatre, literature and culture. The vision backed mission is to strengthen Konkani community while making it a strong motivating force in society.
With this backdrop, 'Vishwa Konkani Loka Kala Utsav' popularly known as Shigmotsava is being organized on March 18 and 19 at Eknath Thakur Rangamantap, Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Mahim, Mumbai. The Loka Kala Utsav brings alive age old Konkani traditions, folk culture coupled with folk songs, folk dances with colourful costumes, Ovyo, Ummanyo, world famous 'puppet show' by Uppinkudru Devanna Kogga Kamath family and skits for the people living in Mumbai metropolitan and suburbs as well as Navi Mumbai. A contingent of 100 folk artistes from North Kanara, Udupi and Mangaluru districts of Karnataka will be brought to Mumbai to showcase the traditional folk art and culture in its most attractive form with colorful costumes and skills.
The two day event will be inaugurated at 3.30 pm on March 18 by the august hands of Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya, Governor of Nagaland. Union minister for railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu's message will be relayed. The inaugural function will be presided over by minister for large and medium industries & infrastructure development, government of Karnataka R V Deshpande. The guests of honour will be Gautam Eknath Thakur, chairman, Saraswat Bank and K Ullas Kamath of Jyoti Laboratories Industry, NKGSB Bank chairman Kishor Kulkarni, managing director of Ryan International Institution Grace Pinto.
A Vishwa Konkani Kavi Ghoshti consisting of eminent poets from Karnataka, Goa and Kerala, who were honoured by Kendriya Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, for their poetry and literature is also being organized.
A G Kamath an eminent Konkani scriptwriter, director and actor recipient of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Award and Francis Fernandes Cascia an eminent actor in a Konkani play 'MhataroCharbela' will be felicitated by dignitaries towards their lifelong contribution in terms of keeping alive the Konkani stage.
The Limca Book of Records fame Dr Chandrashekhar Shenoy and one of the oldest GSB Institutions of Mumbai GSB Sabha, Mumbai’s trustee Sudha Pai will be at the helm of affairs in organizing the event amongst others from the field of art, literature and culture said one of the organisers, Kamalaksha Saraf.