Dubai : Devadiga Sangha Celebrates 19th Annual Day
by Shodhan Prasad
Pics : Shodhan Prasad & Ashok Belman (Gulf Kannadiga)
 
Dubai, Jun 12: Devadiga Sangha Dubai celebrated their 19th annual get together on 11th June, 2010, at Sheraton Hotel, Deira, Dubai in a grand manner by organising a powerful entertainment package which enthralled one & all.  The full day programme started at around 10.30 AM with welcome note by P. Shekar Moily followed by Prayer by Master Anshul Harish Sherigar & Akshata Sherigar.

A one minute silence was observed in respect to those who lost their lives in the recent Air India Express crash at Mangalore and everyone prayed for the souls to rest in peace.

Then was a prayer dance titled ‘Mahaganapatim’ by Kumari Nikita Ramesh Devadiga & Group well performed by participants namely Nikita Ramesh Devadiga, Gayathri V. Pillai, Seethal Susan Rajan, Ardra Premkumar & Nishi Nair.

This set up the inauguration of the get-together anchored by Dinesh Kumar. Former President of Devadiga Sangha Mumbai Dharmapal Devadiga, Editor of Devadiga Jyothi H. Mohandas & Prajna Mohandas and Vice President of Karnataka Rajya Devadigara Sangha, Mangalore Vaman Maroly accompanied by Chairman its Ladies Wing Veni Maroly were the guests of Honour. B.G. Mohandas & Yashoda Mohandas, Narayan M. Devadiga & Mallika Narayan, Harish Sherigar & Sharimila Harish, Ananda Devadiga & Shobha Anand, Padmavalli Sanjay and the coordinator of the event P.Shekar Moily graced the stage. Ladies on stage lead by Prajna Mohandas, Veni Maroly inaugurated the event by lighting the tradition lamp.

B. G. Mohandas introduced the Guests of honour and spoke about how the Sangha started many years back as UAE Devadiga Koota which is now christened as Devadiga Sangha Dubai UAE.  He also thanked all those helped and contributed to the birth & growth of the Sangha and applauded the contribution of members for the cause of Lohitaksha’s release from Saudi Jail recently. He recalled that the Sangha’s Scholarship fund of Rs.5 lacs which has been set up at the Mangalore Sangha signifies the vision & commitment of the UAE Sangha towards helping the talented younger generation. He appealed & encouraged all youngsters to come forward to whole heartedly participate in activities and thus make the Sangha much stronger.

Dharmapal Devadiga spoke few words in Tulu about Devadiga Sanghas worldwide.  He remembered the reference made by Dr. Veerendra Hegde of Dharmasthala that Devadiga community is the one said to be ‘close to God’ and so are with the people of other community.  He shared the achievement of building a full pledged Devadiga Bhawan inaugurated in Mumbai two years back and thanked all his community people in UAE who have contributed and supported in the building fund.  He also mentioned on the Education Scholarship Devadiga Sangha has distributed for the poor community brethrens and requested all the committees in different parts of the world to come forward and support similar education causes. Devadiga’s Akshaya Co OP Bank in Mumbai is another milestone, and he stressed all the community people must make this Bank a strong one.

Vaman Maroly who spoke hared some of his lighter moments in Dubai many years back.  He said that earlier he could see few Devadigas in Dubai which is tremendously increased over the period and was surprised to see them in great numbers attended today.  While thanking the organizers for inviting him he briefed the activities of Karnataka Rajya Devadiga Sangha Mangalore and its contribution to the society and the future plans of upgrading the Sabha Bhavan so as to encourage holding variety of other function which in turn shall fetch more income to Sangha so that School & other activities of the Sangha could be upgraded.  He requested the audience contribution for this venture. He also invited the interested to register as members with Karnataka Rajya Devadiga Sangha and visit the Sangha when they come down to India.

Another representative of Mumbai, H. Mohandas spoke on the occasion and appreciated the efforts of Devadiga Sangha Dubai in rising to great level in all fields.  He said that Devadiga Sangha Bombay is in the 3rd ranking after Bunt’s and Billawas.  He too thanked  the contribution of members of  the Devadiga Sangha Dubai in the building of Devadiga Bhawan at Mumbai.  He said that it is his personal dream that they should plan a World Devadiga Conference in an international level and stressed that more concentration needs to be given for Education Institutions back home.

Guests of Honour were felicitated with flower bouquet and mementos by Harish Sherigar and B.G. Mohandas

Much awaited entertainment program began in right earnest as enthusiastic youngsters; Akhil Mohandas & Shikha Narayan Devadiga took over as the Masters of Ceremony ably conducting the entertainment section.  

Duet Dance by Kumari Deeksha & Prathik Suresh Devadiga performed neatly and followed by a Tulu  /Kannada mix Folk Dance by Naveen Kumar & Party which was ably choreographed by Sathish Devadiga with participants namely Naveen Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Sathish Devadiga, Sudeer Ullal & Nijesh Kumar set the tone & triggered exciting buzz around .  Followed by  a Group Dance by Kumari Nikita Ramesh Devadiga & Group which was called breathless choreography by Kumari Nikita Ramesh Devadiga with participants namely Kumari  Nikhita Ramesh Devadiga & Gayathri V Pillai.

At this juncture the Chief Anchor Dinesh Kumar called on and introduced the famous duo NADEEM & HARISH who presented few sensational foot tapping and memorable musical numbers in Hindi & in Kannada .  The audience enjoyed solos by Suresh Devadiga-a Kannada song called ‘Yantha Saundarya’, a Hindi number ‘Zara Zara’ by Vinaya Sudhakar Devadiga, a Hindi number ‘Ek Ajnabi Haseena sey’ by Harish Sherigar & duet with Sharon Rego, ‘Yellelli Nodali’ and ‘Tum Mile’ by Nadeem himself who rendered some enchanting numbers.   

Not to forget the group family Tulu song called ‘Le Le Le’ rendered by Veni  Maroly, Ashwini, Padma Sanjay, Yashoda, Laxmidas & Suresh to the tunes of Nadeem and beats of Kalyan which literally made the made the audience jump from their seats & tap their feet.

Soon Harish Sherigar conducted some interesting spot games making the families involve along with their children. Later Nithyanand Beskoor also conducted good games for the children..

Later, the group dance presented by Mary Miranda & Group of  Sharjah which was the most appreciated and applauded. This dance performed at Indian Pavilion Global Village. st the stage ablaze. The participants were Mary Miranda, Valerine Miranda, Deeksha Suresh Devadiga, Yash Rao, Riya, Zahra, Natasha, Tony James, Prathik Suresh Devadiga, Keshav, Amaljeeth & Sikander.

Meanwhile the felicitation of Sponsors were staged where in every one who contributed to the success of the program were called on to the stage and felicitated.  This part of the event was again ably conducted by Dinesh Kumar.  They sponsors were honored with flower bouquet, shawl and memento.

Continued with the entertainment, youngsters Shikha and Akhil took over the stage to announce the rest of the programs Viz.Dangerous Dance by Naveen Kumar and Party  choreographed by Sathish Devadiga with participants Naveen Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Sathish Devadiga, Sudeer Ullal and Nijesh Kumar.  Followed by some melodious numbers by Harish, Sharon, Nadeem & Yuvaraj.

The audience liked and appreciated a short Yakshagana prasanga  ‘Mahishashura Vadhe’ which was narrated by Dinesh Kumar. This theme from ‘Devi Mahatme’ was directed by Sandeep Devadiga with participants’s viz., Dhootha & Simha by Sandeep Devadiga, Mother Malini by Nanda Ramesh Devadiga, Mahishasura by Dileep Devadiga, Devi by Shekar Moily Padebettu, Devendra by Ramesh Devadiga, Eshwara by Arun Manipal. Make Up provided by Kishore & Shekar of Yaksha Mitra

A group dance again by Mary Miranda and Group preceded the Lunch Break. 

Fusion Dance was the next item which was choreographed by Nikita Ramesh Devadiga with participants namely Nikita Ramesh Devadiga, Gayathri V Pillai, Seethal Susan Rajan, Ardra Premkumar, Nishi Nair, Moksha Dileep Devadiga and Nanda Ramesh Devadiga.

Media persons along with other well wishers were called upon on the stage and honored with mementos. And all the organizing committee members were also called onstage and thanked with mementos. 

The skit named aptly ‘Moodanambikege Baliyavade, manthravdhinu Nambade’ a subtle warning to the society was staged next.  This skit was choreographed by Sathish Devadiga with participants Sandeep Devadiga, Arun Manipal, Dileep Devadiga, Ramesh G Devadiga, Suresh G Devadiga, Mamatha Sandeep Devadiga and Satish Devadiga.

‘Silsila Ye Chahat Ka’ by Nikita Ramesh & Group won the hearts of the spectators for its delicate presentation of expression of love and scintillating presentation.

By popular demand of the whole community ‘Bootha Kola’ by Shekar Moily Padebettu & Group was presented which was narrated by Dinesh Kumar.  ‘Kola’ was directed by Shekar Moily Padebettu with Suresh G Devadiga as Marpalli- Mukkaldhi, Vadiraj Devadiga as Marpalli - Assistant to Mukkhaldi/Daiva, Ramesh G Devadiga, Marpalli as Guthinar, Vishwanath Devadiga, Marpalli as Madhyastha, Prabhakar Devadiga, Mudharangadi as Ballaldr, Sandeep Devadiga, Yeyyadi as Drunkard, Dileep Devadiga, Moodbidri as Guthudha Javane, Suresh Devadiga, Ninjoor as Thembaredhaye, Suresh Devadiga, Pavanje as Paathri, Shekar Moily Padebettu as  Daiva, Arun Devadiga, Udipi as assistant and Prakash Devadiga, Ninjoor as assistant. 

The behind the screen support of Kishore Gatty and Yaksha Mitraru who did the make-up & costumes of the participants of Yakshagana, Boothakola and Skit with glow and glitter were then appreciatively complimented.

Nithyanand Beskoor concluded the day long programme with cool & crisp vote of thanks.  He made note of special appreciation to all those who put in lot of time in midst of their busy schedules to practice and produce such a beautiful & power packed variety entertainment.  

At the end of the wholesome program a Raffle Draw was conducted by Harish Sherigar and Dinesh Sherigar and the lucky members took away fabulous prizes like Laptop, Camera etc.

The exciting & much applauded and enjoyed programme concluded with a hearty felicitation to the senior talented and most admired co-coordinator of all the get-togethers ; Shekar Moily Padebettu. He was felicitated with Shawl, Flower bouquet and Memento by Dharmapal Devadiga, Harish Sherigar & BG Mohandas.  In return Shekar spoke few words and thanked the Sangha for the honor bestowed.

The event concluded at around 5pm as scheduled.

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