Harshini Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Sep 2: Many people do not have strong financial background, but they are passionate about serving the society and always find unique ways of doing the same. They overcome all odds to help the downtrodden.
Ramanji and Ravi Katpadi are two such personalities, who wear costumes every Krishna Janmashtami to raise funds for the needy. The duo's aim is to help the poor and needy by entertaining people.
Ramanji
For the sixth consecutive year, theatre artist Ramanji who is closely associated with NGO Namma Bhoomi is donning a new avatar to help raise funds for the school he studied.
He will be seen dressed as ‘Drugs Karkotaka’ as he also aims to create awareness on the ill effects of drugs through his costume.
“The youth today are attracted towards drugs and are not aware of its impact and once addicted it’s too late. The only way to curb this menace is to organise a de-addiction sensitisation campaign. I hope my costume creates the required awareness,” he says.
Ramanji has earlier enacted as Nagasadhu in 2013, a Mayan, Thaiyyam in 2015, as centaur a character from Chronicles of Narnia in 2016 and Marikadu in 2017. He is also associated with Udupi district Police, Udupi district Journalist association and Udupi press club.
Speaking about the ‘Drugs Karkotaka’ costume, Ramanji reveals that it is designed by choreographer Prashanth Udyavar and costs around Rs 30,000.
He will be entertaining people by wearing the costume on September 2 and 3 and the proceeds will be donated to Vidyavardaka Sangha Kannada medium School in Shirva.
“As this is an aided school, there is no permanent government teacher in the school. Guest teachers are teaching at the school for honourary payment. Recently, 30 new students have joined this school. Hence a part of the funds will be given to help functioning of this school and another portion of the fund will be donated to Saundarya, who is pursuing 8th standard, and is suffering from back pain. She requires Rs 3 lac for her treatment,” he says.
“Today English medium schools dominate Kannada medium schools. There is a need to save such schools,” he says requesting people to be generous with their contributions and support his cause.
Social Worker Nithyananda Olakadu, Avinash Kamath, Amrithraj, Rohit, Shadhank Shetty and other likeminded friends have joined him in his cause.
Ravi Katpadi
Another interesting personality is Ravi Katpadi. He hails from a poor family, but still takes active part in social work. This year he will dress as ‘Amazing Monster' character.
Katpadi has decided to contribute the proceeds he collects to fund treatment of four children. Deeksha U Kundar from Uppinakote suffers from blood cancer. Another 13-year-old Zalfin from Kodi, Kundapur is suffering from kidney related disease. Two years and eight month old Manwika from Udupi needs around Rs 27 lac for Thalassemia treatment and 10-year-old Rajath, who hails from Anagalli village of Kundapur taluk needs funds to treat his legs.
Ravi Katpadi aims to help the four children by donating proceeds collected towards their medical treatment.
The funds will be distributed at Sri Hanuman Vitobha Bajan Mandira, Malpe Kola ward on September 9 at 4 pm. Esha Vittaldasa Swamiji of Kemaru math, deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis and SP Lakshman Nimbargi will grace the occasion.
Ravi has requested support from the public.
Ravi's friends Somananth, Arun, Santhosh, Sujith and few other likeminded people have extended support for his cause.
Avighna Vyaghras team Kadiyali
This time more than 18 young women have teamed to form a ‘hulivesha’ troupe named ‘Avighna Vyaghras’ and are set to make ‘Krishna Janmashtami’ even more enthusiastic. These girls are from Udupi and are pursuing PUC, engineering and some are also kids studying in UKG who are enthusiastic to perform tiger dance. Since one month, after college hours, these girls are practicing dance for about 3 hours each day.
Even the parents of these kids are supporting them. This is the first time they have been dressed as tiger with the encouragement of Kadiyali Ganeshotsava Committee. Shivappa Poojary, a retired employee of Mescom is heading and guiding the whole team.
Shivappa has been awarded with ‘Extraordinary Tiger-1978’ and 1987, for dancing for two hours without break. Apart from the state, he has been appreciated by others for showing his talent in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The tiger dance costumes of these girls are specially designed by Nithin of ‘A1 costumes’. Wearing a Huli designed costume, ‘Avighna Vyaghras’ are ready to shine in Udupi on the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami.
The tiger team is headed by Shruthi Shet and Navya Kini. Chaitra Bhat, Diksha V, Saniha J Rao, Kavya Kini, Meghana V, Pooja, Vaishnavi, Keerthana, Divya, Vaishnavi Hebbar, Swati, Sanvi, Sushmita, Harshitha and Arshia will entertain the audience.
The young women team aim to donate proceeds collected to Kadyali Ganeshotsava Committee’s Asare Charitable Trust for Children. “We are going to offer collected funds to 25 children here for their education. Yes, these innocent children are the inspiration for our task,” says team leader Shruti Shet.
The team will perform at Katyayani Mandapada venue at Kadialli at 4.00 pm on September 2.
Contact:
Ramanji - 8105134893
Ravi Katpadi - 9731735462
Shruthi Shet - 6360765460 (Avighna Vyaghras)