Sharjah: Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in association with Hrudayavahini Karnataka celebrated the 60th Karnataka Rajyotsava, 13th annual day and the 12th World Kannada Cultural Convention 2015 along with presenting the prestigious Mayura Award to well-known business man Vakwadi Praveen Kumar Shetty for his contribution towards social causes and activities and his service to Kannada language and culture.

The two-day convention was inaugurated by convention president Prof S G Siddaramayyah along with president of KSS Sateesha Venkataramana, president of Hrudayavahini K P Manjunath, MLA of Karnataka Moideen Bawa, Director of Fortune group of hotels Praveen Shetty, Shri Shri Malaya Shantha Swamiji, chief of ACME building materials Harish Sherigar, president of Abudhabi Karnataka Sangha Sarvottam Shetty, famous Kannada film actor and music director Sadhu Kokila, patron of KSS Mark Denis Dsouza and other dignitaries at the Dubai Grand by Fortune hotel on Thursday, November 19.

Speaking at the occasion K P Manjunath welcomed everyone to the celebration and further explained the objectives of Hrudayavahini behind celebrating the 12th World Kannada convention. Moideen Bawa, MLA of Karnataka expressed his happiness in representing the Government of Karnataka on behalf of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and congratulated all the members of KSS and Hrudayavahini for creating the magic of cultural and literature in one stage.

Praveen Shetty, Sarvottam Shetty, Sadhu kokila, Mark Denis Dsouza, Malaya Shantha Swamiji wished their best for the second-day of the programme which included the conferring of the Mayura Award as well as the celebration of 60th Karnataka Rajyotsava.

President of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah thanked everyone for making the inaugural program lively and requested all to attend the next day of festivities as well. The program was arranged at the Al Boom tourist village auditorium Sharjah.

After the stage program, Chutuku Kavi Goshti followed where famous poets of UAE and India presented their humorous and entertaining short poems. The team was of poets headed by B.R. Lakshman included poets invited from India and UAE- Irshad Moodabidri from Dubai, Arati Ghatikar from Dubai, Bindiganavile Bhagwan from Bengaluru, Priya Harish from Mangalore and Yaqub Khader from Gulwadi. Sadhukokila and artists from TV9 of the Halli Katte comedy show fame thoroughly entertained the audiences.

Day 2 of celebrations:

The second day program which included the 12th world Kannada convention, 60th Karnataka Rajyotsava celebration, the 13th annual program of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah and the conferring of the Mayura Award, was held at Al Boom Tourist village auditorium Sharjah.

Members of the Karnataka Sangha Sharjah along with President Sateesha Venkataramana, president of Hrudayavahini KP Manjunath and President of the convention SG Siddaramayyah hoisted the flag of Karnataka and honored it by singing the Nada Geete (state anthem) and the national anthem.

Following this, the stage events that included many cultural activities like dance, singing and live comedy performances from various artists of Karnataka and UAE, were the highlights of the programme.

During the same time, ‘Kavi Goshti’ was presented by Prof. M.B. Kudari Gokak from Belgaum followed by PrabhaSuvarna from Mumbai, Prakash Rao Payyar from Dubai, Gopinath Rao from Abudhabi, Eranna Moolimani from Dubai and Manohar Melmane from Sirsi. The poets elaborated their views on different subjects in a formal manner which made the audiences contemplate the feelings and visions behind the well written poetry and prose.

The ‘Anivasi Kannadigaru and Madhyama Goshti’ was held after this, which was presided over by Sarvotham Shetty from Abu Dhabi, with the participation of KP Manjunath from Mangalore, B.V. Nagaraj from Canada, Ananth Prabhu from Mangalore and Veerendra Babu from Dubai. During the goshti, speakers explained their views and advised as to getting various opportunities through media.

Award Ceremony: Mayura award conferred on Praveen Shetty

The afternoon session saw the formal stage program was held. Chief of NMC hospitals Padmashri Dr. B R Shetty, convention president SG Siddaramayyah, president of KSS SateeshaVenkataramana, CEO of Zain group of hotels Zafrulla Khan Mandya, MLA Moideen Bawa, actor Sadhukokila, Chief of ACME building materials Harish Sherigar, president of Abudhabi Karnataka Sangha Sarvottam Shetty, patron of KSS Mark Denis Dsouza, general secretary of KSS Ananth Raman, Malaya Shantha Swamiji were present on dais during the programme.

The dignitaries inaugurated the stage function in a formal way by lightening the traditional lamp. During same occasion, the prestigious Mayura ward was conferred on renowned businessman Praveen Shetty for his contribution towards social activities and his service towards Kannada language and culture. Praveen Shetty and his family were welcomed and brought to the stage in a grand procession with a Kerala traditional band, Kalasha with Sumangalis and a procession of Kannada Mathe.

After receiving the award Praveen Kumar Shetty thanked KSS for the recognition he has received and for honoring him with the prestigious Mayura Award. He remembered his parents and said that their blessings and the wishes and prayers of his dear ones have made him a successful person and he will always be willing to contribute to the society.

He also assured his full-fledged support to mankind and vowed to help those in need in the coming days. He also wished all the success to KSS.

Following this, the Global Man Award 2015 was conferred on various achievers for their achievement in various fields. Dr N A Magdum for education, Metro Mohammad for social service, A S Kudroli for education, B K Ganesh Rai for his service to Kannada, Maruthi Sheguni for social service, Rajesh Varnekar for art, Naveen Prasad for Kriya Yoga and Dr. D K Ramesh for his service in the medical field were honored with the award.

The World Kannada Convention Award 2015 was conferred to Dr. Aikalabava Deviprasad Shetty for his village development service, Dawood Abubaker for his service in the technical field, Anne Gowda for social service, Dr. V Nagaraj for his service in the technical field and V Jayalakshmi Jithendra for her service in the field of art through the Bharatanatyam dance form. They were honored with an award and certificates.

The Pride of Karnataka Award 2015 was presented to Mark Denis Dsouza, Prabhakar Ambalatere, Noel D Almeida, Satish poojary and Shantharam Acharya for their selfless service towards the development of Kannada literature and culture.

The talented young children of UAE who won the prestigious Haldane Award for their excellent performance during their academic tenure and other activities were honored with mementoes by convention president Prof. S G Siddaramayyah.

Dr. BR Shetty, MLA Moideen Bawa, convention president Prof S G Siddaramayyah, Shri Malaya Shantha Swamiji congratulated all the awardees and thanked them for their selfless service in their respective fields. They wished all success to Karnataka Sangha Sharjah and Hrudayavahini and thanked President SateeshaVenkataramana for displaying his leadership in make the convention a great success.

Sponsors and well-wishers of the convention were honored by the president. All performers were honored with mementoes. Various guest artists who came from Karnataka entertained the audiences with their best performances. Sadhukokila was a special attraction of the occasion while he sang a song which enthralled the audience.

Ganesh Rai, Rajesh Kuttar, Rohini Ananth and Priya Harish compered the program. President of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah Sateesha Venkataramana thanked each and every one for their contribution in making the convention a grand success.