News and Pics From Rons Bantwal
For Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (RD/CN)

Mumbai, Aug 16: The annual day of ‘Chinnara Bimba’, the childrens division of 'Kalajagattu', was held recently at Shanmuganand auditorium, King Circle, Matunga, which was graced by Sri Vishweshateerta Swamiji of Pejavar Math. Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa inaugurated the 'Makkala Mela' by lighting the lamp.

Yeddyurappa said that the children’s variety programmes held here conveys the love Kannadigas in the metro have for their mother tongue. The Karnataka government has devised various special programmes for children and acknowledges the efforts of Tonse Vijaykumar Shetty, founder of Chinnara Bimba and Kalajagattu, on this occasion.

Meanwhile, he announced that the Chinnara Bimba troupe will be invited for the grand Mysore Dasara celebrations in October. Kalajagattu which was floated in the metro, is doing  yeomen service for the language and should be emulated by Kannadigas living across Karnataka as a majority of them have come under the lure of western culture in their own land, he added.

Sri Vishveshateerta Swamiji said that love of mother tongue conveys the self-respect of an individual. It enhances culture and accounts for all round progress. Chinnara Bimba has shown the world how much can be achieved through persistent effort and with the grace of God.

Karnataka home minister Dr V S Acharya, Dakshina Kannada MP Sadanand D Gowda, Mumbai MLA Gopal C Shetty, former minister B Nagaraj Shetty, Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, Udupi MLA K Raghupathy Bhat, Byndoor MLA K Laxminarayan, Puttur MLA Mallika Prasad Bhandary, and Karnataka MLC Srinivas Poojary Kota were among those present.

Chinnara Bimba trustee and founder president Puja P Bhandary, welcomed the gathering. Executive president Nayana P Bhandary, and chief secretary Shreya Surendra Hegde, compered the programme. The chief minister, the Swamiji, and Dr Acharya, were felicitated on behalf of Chinnara Bimba.