KKK celebrates Rajyotsava

February 20, 2022

Kuwait Kannada Koota, a socio-cultural association for the people of Karnataka in Kuwait, celebrated state formation day, Rajyotsava, on 19th November through an online platform due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. The program was a humble tribute to the state’s poets and aptly named “Karunada Sinchana – Kavi Namana”.

The evening began with a grand welcome spectacle by the PR Committee members led by the convenor Smt. Veena Giridhar. This was followed by the national anthem of Kuwait & India. Cultural convenor, Smt. Suma Bhat, welcomed the distinguished guests, members, and viewers. The program started with an invocation dance offering obeisance to Lord Ganesha, followed by lighting of the lamp by the executive committee comprising of President Shri. Revanasiddappa Hombali, Vice President Shri. Vikram Kunjibettu, General Secretary Dr. Yogeesha Jayaramu, and Treasurer Shri. Shreenivas Kshatriya, all accompanied by their better halves. A moving tribute was paid to Late Shri Puneet Rajkumar by the Executive Committee and a brief video was shown as a token of tribute to the departed soul. Vice President, in his welcome speech, introduced the eminent guests for the event. Chief Guests of the event were Dr. Nadoja Baraguru Ramachandrappa, an eminent essayist, lyricist, screenwriter, film director, socialist, writer, and novelist, and Dr. V. Nagendra Prasad, a well-known lyricist, composer, and director in Kannada cinema.

The cultural convenor introduced the cultural committee team members in an eye-catching dance sequence. Cultural programs started with Gigi pada, a north Karnataka folk song, ably directed by Dr. Surendra Nayak. This was followed by an energetic traditional dance Jatre directed by Smt. Sangeetha Mangalgi & Smt. Swathi Nayak where performers enacted a popular folk dance from North Karnataka. The program continued with another colorful coastal folk dance from Koota kids well directed by Smt. Rajeshwari Chetan and Smt. Rashmi Shiramagond. Soulful Beary Sufi dance followed which was performed by Koota’s energetic kids and directed by Smt. Lavanya Lokesh and Smt. Mahalaxmi Shridhar Bhat. Koota ladies performed a sequence of exuberant Kodava dances depicting harvesting festival and it was wonderfully directed by Smt. Sourabha Vikram. Kum. Shristi Shiramagond directed a semi-classical dance depicting Navaratri festivities in Mysore that was wonderfully performed by Koota girls. Smt. Suma R. Bhat and Smt. Sujaya Rajesh Shetty directed Yakshagana, a traditional folk-dance form popular in Coastal Karnataka districts, which was performed to perfection by association children.

The audience was treated to a series of dances directed by Smt. Sahitya Ashray and Smt. Raji Achar where kids & members performed wearing an array of diverse colorful costumes highlighting the theme, unity in diversity. Cultural programs concluded with another lively & enthralling patriotic dance directed by Smt. Bhargavi Brahma & Smt. Raksha Nayak.

President, while addressing the gathering, welcomed the chief guests and audience. He thanked His Excellency the Ambassador for all the support given to the community. He also thanked all the sponsors for the support given to support Koota. President highlighted the performances by Koota children and members in remembrance of various eminent Kannada poets. He listed out Koota’s various philanthropic activities including the financial support for Aruna Chetana Special Needs School, Earthquake victims, Maheshwari Blind School, government schools in Challakere and help extended to the community during the Covid pandemic situation. Video clipping of message, congratulating and wishing Koota on the occasion, from His Excellency, the Ambassador of India was shown to the audience. In his address, he highlighted the contribution of the Koota during the pandemic situation.

Chief guest, Dr. Nadoja Baraguru Ramachandrappa in his address to the audience, expressed his happiness to be part of the event. He appreciated Koota’s efforts in preserving and developing Kannada for the last 37 years in Kuwait. He recalled the history and contributions made by different people for the formation of Karnataka by including all Kannada-speaking areas. He highlighted the ability of Kannada in accepting and adapting to other languages like English and thereby enriching the vocabulary.

e-Souvenir and e-Marala Mallige, Koota’s in-house magazine published on a quarterly basis consisting of informative articles from members & children were released. The souvenir committee headed by Shri Uday Vernekar and Marala Mallige committee headed by Shri Rajiv Kulkarni, worked hard to get these e-magazines published on time.

Guest of honor, Dr. V. Nagendra Prasad addressed the gathering and appreciated the cultural programs conducted by the Koota members. He impressed upon the audience the importance of Kannada language development by accepting and co-existing with other languages.

Shri. Srinath Hebbar, the event sponsor, spoke about different projects his company, Land Trades Builders, is undertaking and invited Koota members to invest in them. Shri. Naveen Kumar Ullal & Shri. Manas, representing Tata-AIG, introduced various different insurance schemes and encouraged members to go for the investment. Smt. Umadevi of Maxlife Insurance also spoke about different insurance schemes available with them and extended an invitation to all members to take part.

Koota’s secretary, Dr. Yogeesha Jayaramu presented the vote of thanks where he thanked the distinguished chief guest, other eminent guests, sponsors, committees, and all who contributed to the success of the program. Cultural programs continued with Kavi Namana, an introduction of Kannada’s Jnanpith award-winning poets. The Jnanpith award, constituted in 1961 by Bharatiya Jnanpith- a trust, is given each year for authors for their immense contribution towards their respective language and literature. Achievements of Shri. Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa, popularly known as KUVEMPU, Shri. Da. Ra. Bendre, Shri. Shivaram Karanth, Shri. Maasti Venkatesh Iyengar, Shri. V.K. Gokak, Shri. U. R. Ananthamurthy, Shri. Girish Karnad and Shri. Chandrashekar Kambar was narrated in a lively manner which generated interest among the attended audience. Children performed to the creations of distinguished poets in a sequence of colorful dances which was liked by one and all. Kavi Namana was conducted by Chiguru Balli, a program of Koota for developing the Kannada language among the children of the association.

The program was sponsored by Land Trades builders and developers Mangalore, ATC, Gemsil, FTEC, Oriental Restaurants, Concept General Trading, Max Life Insurance, Bader Al Sama, Barcode Gulf, Tata AIG, Kuwait India Exchange Company, UAE Exchange, United Business Group, Karnataka Bank and Namma Radio.