Abu Dhabi: Karnataka Sangha Celebrates Rajyotsav with Songs, Dances, Laughter
Report by Shodhan Prasad
Pics by Ashok Belman
Gulf Kannadiga - UAE
Abu Dhabi, Nov 6: Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha celebrated its 30th year of strong existence with 54th Karnataka Rajyotsava 2010 celebrations filled with colours of humour, dance and music. The day long programme took place on 5th November, 2010 at the main auditorium of India Social and Cultural Centre Abu Dhabi. Rajyostava Awardee and President of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha Sarvotham Shetty with all the Committee Members opened up the well organized function with Deepavali wishes.
The programme started at around 10.30 AM and it was nice to see all the Committee Members in traditional dress welcoming the guests. Presided by Padmashree Dr. B.R. Shetty, Patron of UAE Kannadigas along with Chief Guest H.E. M.K. Lokesh, Indian Ambassador to UAE and Guest of Honours Dr. Saji Gopinath from Manipal and Thomas Varghese, President of India Social & Cultural Centre, Abu Dhabi lighted the traditional lamp to open up the function.
The cultural programme started with a prayer by Namitha continued with variety entertainment programme gave touching flavours of Kannada with patriotic songs by Sudharshan and Group “Mugillali nodu mungaaru hakki’, Donald & Group of Pear of Mangalore with ‘Karnatakada ithihaasadalli’, and Pearl Kids presenting ‘Chappale Chappale’ song received good round of applause by the audience. Various dance numbers by children was really appreciated and applauded. A dance drama play by Namitha Ananth Group and another dance performance directed by Gayathri Prakash was well presented and applauded. All these gave a festival ambience in the auditorium and the audience enjoyed every bit of it.
Sarvotham Shetty welcomed the audience with a brief on Rajyotsava & Deepavali wishes, while Sudhir Kumar Shetty, COO of UAE Exchange gave a brief introduction of H.E. M.K. Lokesh, Indian Ambassador to UAE. The Ambassador was then honoured with Shawl and Memento by Dr. B.R. Shetty. In his speech H.E. Lokesh said that he felt that he is not away from his home town Karnataka. He also said that he has not attended such beautiful programme for a long time and was really impressed to see a large gathering of Kannadigas especially in Abu Dhabi. Guest of honour Dr. Saji Gopinath, Director, TAPMI, Manipal was also honored and felicitated with bouquet who in his speech invited the Kannadiga students to join their institution back in Manipal for various advanced courses they have in offer. Also the winner of Koosamma Shambu Shetty Throw Ball Tournament, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha Team were called upon and honoured with medals by Dr. Chandrakumari B.R. Shetty.
The main attraction of the day was the blend of humour and mimicry well presented by the specially invited humorist from Karnataka G. Pranesh along with Master of Mimicry, Narasimha Joshi kept the audience rolling down with their rib tickling presentation on topics like Politics, Cricket and current education system for children. Pranesh fondly known as King of Comedy Poet Gangavathi Beechi has given more than 600 shows in various places and has been honoured every where. They were both felicitated on stage with traditional shawl, flowers, fruits and memento by Shekar Shetty, MD of Arab Udupi Group of Hotels. All the sponsors of the programme were also called upon to the stage and honoured with shawl for their contribution, by Dr. B.R. Shetty. Students who have excelled in the field of education and sports were also honoured with ‘Prathibha Puraskara’ which was ably compeered by Manohar Tonse one of the senior member of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha.
The afternoon sumptuous buffet lunch was served to the audience by Food Land Hotel, Abu Dhabi.
People were eagerly waiting for the Grand Raffle Draw which was held in the later half and prizes were given away to the winners. The winner was presented with a round trip Air India ticket from Mangalore or any destination in India was presented by Thomas Sequeira. Also two air tickets from Etihad Airways which is for round trip from Bangalore or any destination in India were given away by Ms. George Ambooken & Zulfikar Parkar. Plus Two Jet Airways round trip tickets from Bangalore or Mangalore was given away by their representatives of Jet Airways. Again there were also three Gold Coins from Malabar Gold which was presented by their representatives and finally the bumper prize Blackberry a Mobile Phone by Jayaram Rai, Member of India Social Centre and Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha.
All the Committee Members including the President of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha have worked shoulder to shoulder to present this beautiful Rajyostava Celebration 2010 in a grand manner witnessed by large number of Kannadigas even though there were many other functions of various Karnataka Associations elsewhere in UAE. The whole programme was ably compeered by Ananth in his original imitable style of presenting. The day long programme got concluded at around 5.30 PM.
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