Moodbidri: Bhootanatheshwara Kreedotsava Culminates on a Grand Note
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (VA)
Moodbidri, Feb 14: The two-day Bhootanatheshwara Kreedotsava, a carnival of rural games being held under the auspices of Shasthavu Sri Bhootanatheshwara Temple and Sri Bhoothanatheshwara Bhajana Mandali, Badaga Yedapadavu, Mijar concluded in a grand manner on Sunday February 13.
Over 1,300 contestants participated in 21 games of the two-day Kreedotsava which was an attempt to revive traditional games and sports of Tulunadu region comprising Udupi - Dakshina Kannada – Kasargod regions.
After a number of interesting games on Saturday, competitions such as Cycle Race, Drawing Competition, Mud Field Race (individual), Mud Field Race (Couples), Gunny Bag Crawling Race, Coconut Beedie Rolling, Coconut Throw, Rangoli, Weaving Coconut Leaves, Natural Body Building, Best Looking Kori and Best Decorated Cow were held on Sunday.
To make the event even more memorable and entertaining there was a dance performance by the renowned actress and Bharata Natyam artiste Padmashri Shobana and her troupe.
About Padma Shri Award Recipient Shobana
Born into a family of dancers committed to the arts, she is the niece of the legendary classical dancers Travancore Sisters Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini and followed in their footsteps starting her training in Bharatanatyam at a very early age.
Later, under the guidance of the distinguished exponent of Bharatanatyam Chitra Visweswaran, Shobana's dedication to this art form was further honed kindling a commitment to reach beyond the ordinary. In 1984 after five years of intensive study at the Chidambaram Academy, Madras, she made her debut on stage proving her inherent gift as a fine dancer. Since then she has continued to perform to audiences of connoisseurs both in India and abroad.
Her recitals abroad include the World Malayalee convention, in America in 1995, 1985. Shobana has also performed in Kuala Lumpur before His Highness the King and Queen of Malaysia. Her dance tours have taken her all over U.S.A., Europe, the whole of South-East Asia and Australia.
Shobana has over the years performed in several of the Music and Dance Festivals in India. She has had the distinction of inaugurating the dance and music season in Madras 1992 at the Music Academy - the bastion of classical art. She has also performed at the nationally acclaimed Surya festival in Trivandrum, Kerala in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997.
Shobana who is presently teaching Bharatanatyam in Madras has distinguished herself over the years in the field of films as a noted actress. She won the National award for best actress of the year 1994 and 2002. In the year 2007, the President of India honoured her with the coveted Padma Shri award outstanding contribution to the field of arts.