Tuluvas in DUBAI Witnessed Grand ‘TULUVA SIRI ISIRA 2015’ Cultural Fest

Photo:Ashok Belman

‘Tuluva Siri Isira 2015’ hosted by Tulusiri Dubai at Indian Club Dubai on Friday the 27th February, 2015 was an event to be remembered witnessed by large number of Tuluvas from all over the Gulf. The day long programme cultural festival commenced at 11.30 AM in the morning with Guests being received in traditional Umbrella and Kalasha parade by group of ladies, welcomed on to the stage.

District Rajyothswava Awardee Dr. Y.N. Shetty of Udupi who is well known for his research work in Tulu along with other Guests were invited on to the stage by famous MC Navin Shetty Edmar of Namma TV fame. Soon welcome dance was presented by Kum. Sparsha.

President B.K. Padmaraj Yekkar welcomed the Guests of Honour and the audience. The ceremony was later inaugurated by Dr. Y.N. Shetty by traditional lighting the lamp along with Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha President, Sarvotham Shetty, Fortune Group of Hotels MD, Praveen Shetty, Acme Building Materials MD, Harish Sherigar, Editor in Chief of Daijiworld, Walter Nandalike, Karnataka Sangha Sharjah President, Satish Venkataramana, Sprayteck Contracting Co., MD, Ramachandra Hegde, President Padmaraj Yekkar and other dignitories. Later Executives of various other Karnataka based Sanghas were invited to light the Diyas giving touch to Tulu Sanskriti.

President Yekkar welcomed all the Guests and Tuluvas and briefed them on the days programme.

Walter Nandalike did the releasing of Tulu Books and CD’s and it was really nice to have collection of various books on Tulu and various Tulu Musical CD’s made available for Tuluvas in the Gulf. Walter later along with the other guests opened up the ‘Kalpavriksha Flower’ giving inauguration touch to the day long programme.

On behalf of all the Guests Sarvotham Shetty rendered inaugural speech on the day’s programme and while congratulating Tulusiri he also said that every effort needs to be given to keep this Tulu organisation life for more than a decade. Later Walter Nandalike spoke on the Tulu language, the importance of the language and also shared some of his soft moments back in India. He appreciated the efforts of the organisers and wished them good luck.

Chief Guest Dr. Y.N. Shetty spoke on Tulunadu and enlightened the audience on how vast was Tulunadu around 60,000 years ago and how and what made it to the current size after so many years. He also enlightened on the richness of the language, tradition, culture and ethnicity. He also put light on the food habits, preparation, ingredients of Tuluva food which in any form contained medicinal benefits especially to the women community. He showed worries on why this is fading away and people are attracted towards globalization leaving behind our rich food and culture. He shared his vast knowledge and tipped Tuluvas to keep the language and culture live by contributing in whatever way they could. He showed the example of today’s Tulusiri programme and appreciated the organisers for hosting such a programme.

Shodhan Prasad felicitated

Social worker Shodhan Prasad was felicitated along with his wife Sandhya Shodhan for his contribution in the field of Tulu Culture in this part of the world specially remembering the success of Tuluvere Parba 2012 under his leadership and also to his contribution in the field of Tulu Dramas. Also adding the very famous first International Tulu Film ‘Nirel’ produced by him last year which received appreciations with four awards during the recent ‘Cinemotsava Award Function’ and Special Award during the ‘First Tulu Film Awards’ function both in Mangalore. Tulusiri Dubai recognised his contribution and felicitated him with shawl, flower, fruit bowl, Felicitation Certificate and Memento. Shodhan in return thanked Tulusiri Dubai for the felicitation and shared his honour with all those who have supported him in his deeds.

Other programmes

Presided by one of the well known promoter of Tulu language in Gulf, B.K. Ganesh Rai conducted ‘Bhashey Siri’ a truly meaningful oratory programme which had speakers from Abu Dhabi, Manohar Thonse, from Dubai, Nanu Marol & Sudharshan Hegde & Padmaraj Yekkar (because of his throat problem Naveen Shetty supported him). They all beautifully covered subjects relating to Tulu Literature, Culture, Language, Poetry, Comedy, Drama, Yakshagana & Cinema in their respective discussions on Tulu language. Later Ganesh Rai along with Tulusiri President Padmaraj Yekkar handed over the book of records relating to the various past Cultural Events held in the Gulf for more than 3 decades to Guest Dr. Y.N. Shetty. At the end all the speakers were honoured with Mementos while Dr. Y.N. Shetty praised the efforts and advised briefly on the future action in the gulf to be taken in order to maintain the spirit of Tulu language.

Lunch break was announced and people savored sumptuous buffet lunch. During the lunch break was Sangeetha Siri Co-ordinated by Musician Arun Carlo & Group, who presented melodious Tulu songs rendered by singers Dony Correa, Preema Rodrigues, Asha Correa & Sandra D’Souza which took the audience to eternal world. Adding spice was songs by Harish Sherigar who gave few solo, duets and medely of some melodious Tulu numbers including ‘Mokeda Singari’.

‘Tulu Naada Vaibhava’ an cultural dance show presented by Ganesh Shetty Bailoor & Group got good round of applause. This was choreographed by Jasmitha Vivek while participated by various artistes including Sparsha Shetty.

‘Kabithe Siri’ was later presented by Irshad Moodubidre, Dubai who presided the forum and presented poets Gopinath Rao from Sharjah, M.E. Moolur from Dubai, Robert Fernandes Udyavara from Dubai, Stany D’Souza Bela from Dubai, Prakash Rao Payyar, Arthur Pereira Omzoor from Dubai who beautifully recited their own creations. They were all honoured with Mementos at the end.

Finally the closing ceremony was ably concluded headed by inaugurator Dr. Y.N. Shetty and graced by Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha President, Sarvotham Shetty, Fortune Group of Hotels MD, Praveen Shetty, Editor in Chief of Daijiworld, Walter Nandalike, Chilli Willy Trading MD, Satish Venkataramana, Sprayteck Contracting Co., MD, Ramachandra Hegde, Acme Building Materials MD, Harish Sherigar, Dhwani Prathistana President, Prakash Rao Payyar, Daiji Rangh Manch President, Dayan D’Souza and Impress Teck Co LLC, MD. Sudhir Kumar Raju Poojary.

At the end Navin Sequeira who ably handed the electronic display board and Joel of Broadway events who engineered with good sound system were honoured with mementos. Even all the Media representatives were individually invited on to the stage and honoured with mementos.

B.K. Ganesh Rai felicitated

Multi talented personality Ganesh Rai whose contribution in UAE in the field of Art Direction, Writer, Leader of Association, Promoter of Tulu-Kannada language with his association with many Karnataka based associations in UAE was felicitated on the stage along with his wife Manjula Ganesh Rai with shawl, flower bouquet, fruit bowl and Memento for his true contribution towards Tulu Culture and also for his role in designing logo, invitation, stage setting etc. for Tulusiri Dubai. Ganesh Rai in return thanked Tulusiri Dubai for the honours.

Naveen Shetty Edmar felicitated

Well known TV presenter Naveen Shetty Edmar who came all the way from Mangalore to host the Tulusiri programme was appreciated very well by the audience for his imitable fluent pure Tulu oratory. He was felicitated by Tulusiri Dubai with shawl, flower bouquet, fruit bowl and Memento. Naveen in return thanked Tulusiri Dubai for the felicitation.

Chief Guest Dr. Y.N. Shetty felicitated

District Rajyothswava Awardee Dr. Y.N. Shetty, Chief Guest and inaugurator of the days programme was later felicitated by President of Tulusiri Dubai, Padmaraj Yekkar. Dr. Y.N. Shetty well known for his research work in Tulu ably graced the function and received appreciation from the whole Tulu audience. He was honoured with shawl, flower bouquet, fruit bowl and Memento. Shetty in return thanked Tulusiri Dubai for the felicitation.