Dubai: For the first time ever, the ‘Vishwa Tulu Sammelana 2018’ is being hosted outside India, making it truly worldwide. The date for the event was fixed for November 23 and 24 at Al Nasr Leisure Land, Dubai. More than 4000 Tuluvas from all over the world are expected to arrive and witness this unique programme.

All these years, the same conventions were organized in Mangaluru and its outskirts, but within the Tulunadu region. A group of likeminded Tuluvas came together and held a meeting in Dubai. Sarvotham Shetty, Shodhan Prasad and Ganesh Rai joined hands with the UAE Tuluvas, Akhila Bharatha Tulu Okkoota and Tulu Sahitya Academy, Bengaluru to organise the event. UAE Tuluvas has offered to host the programme in Dubai with the support of Overseas Tuluvas.

President of UAE Tuluvas, Sarvotham Shetty is the chief convenor of the ‘Vishwa Tulu Sammelana 2018’ Dubai. Shodhan Prasad is the Event Manager. Ganesh Rai is in charge of the souvenirs with his expertise and as one of the fundraising sources.

Under the guidance of Shodhan Prasad, the entire event will be conducted through a professionally licensed event management company called ‘Rhythm Events’. The event will be held with the permission of the DTCM and a proposal has been sent along with the NOC from Al Nasr Leisure Land to the event management company.

It is a ‘Sarva Dharma Convention’ mainly highlighting the Tulu language, Culture and Folk amongst the Tulu speaking communities of Tulunadu. Saving the Tulu language, Culture and Folk and to include Tulu in the Indian Constitution is the aim of this convention.

Sarvotham Shetty, as the chief coordinator, held meetings with the presidents of the Akhila Bharata Tulu Okkoota and Tulu Sahitya Academy to get monetary support from the Government of Karnataka.

Accordingly, the following sub-committees were formed to present a two-day mega event:

Sub Committees
• Core Committee – Comprising of leaders of various community organisations
• Sub Committee – Comprising of Members from various community organisations
• Budget and Audit Committee – Comprising of Auditors and Chartered Accountants
• Members Co-ordination Committee
• Souvenir Committee
• Exhibition Committee
• Cultural and Convention Committee
• Food Committee
• Marketing and Publicity Committee
• Welcome and Volunteer Committee
• Backstage Committee
• Stage Programme and Felicitation Committee
• Time Police Committee – Who will manage the time slots
• Airport Receiving and Transport Committee
• Musical Orchestra Committee

The whole programme will comprise of the following Cultural and Social awareness programmes:

• Tulu Folk Dance Competitions – GCC Level – 6 Teams have confirmed their participation.
• Joint inauguration by Heads of Various religious communities of Tulunadu.
• Tulunada Pabholu (Festivals of Tulu Nadu) a dance ballet by Artistes from Chakrapani Nritya Kala Kendra Mangalore.
• Yakshagana ballet by local artistes and Tala Maddale – An ancient art of storytelling.
• Tulu nada ‘Pili Nallike’ – Tiger dance of Tulu Nadu.
• Yaksha Natya Gana Vaibhava – Music and Dance ballet by Satish Patla Team from Mangalore.
• ‘Rasamanjari’ – Tulu Musical Orchestra by local artistes.
• ‘Tulu Ayona’ – a dance ballet by visiting artistes from Dr. Rajesh Alva Team Mangalore.
• ‘Sathyapuratha Siri’ Tulu Nritya Roopaka by Sanathana Natyalaya Mangalore.
• ‘Yelver Daivolu’ Tulu Nritya Roopaka by Natya Nikethana, Mangalore.
• Various Ghostis on ‘Daivaradhana/Bootharadhane’, Hasya Kavana Ghosti, Tulu Ranga Bhoomi, Tulu Chalana Chitra Ghosti and Convention by Overseas Tuluvas and Hora Nada Tuluvas.
• To add humour there will be 3 Teams of ‘Stand-up Comedy’ – Bhale Telepale’s Prashamsa Group and Umesh Mijar Group together with local group Gammath Kalavider.

To conclude the following are the current standings:

• Souvenir Advertisements – Has achieved more than 200 pages of Commercial and Personal Ads plus has Greetings, Wishes, Articles and Write-ups of various Tulu Culture and Folk
• Exhibition Committee have arranged to showcase Tulu Nadu Artefacts, photos, video of festivals, games, culture, traditions etc. and much more in Nashwan Hall.
• Cultural and Convention – More than 240 performers and24 Guest Speakers participating
• Folk Dance Competition – 6 Groups confirmed including Al Ain, Bahrain and Muscat
• Total in the Event – 335 participants and Around 300 plus Committee Members only
• Guest List to include Prominent religious heads, Actors, Artistes, Poets, Writers, Journalists and Tulu Leaders from all over the world
• Honouring various sponsors and supporters
• Live streaming in NammaKudla TV Channels
• Live streaming in News Karnataka FB and Media Pages
• 2000 ‘Muttale’(traditional headgear) to be distributed
• Varieties of Tulu Food Savoury – Mouthwatering delicacies
• Snacks, juices, tea, coffee free-flowing throughout 2 days
• Arranged ‘Dubai Tour’ for many Tuluvas
• Mementoes and appreciations for all the participants
• A full non-stop entertainment throughout the two days