Dubai: “Once upon a time Okkaliga’s were the leading community of Karnataka and they were the people who ushered a new era in Bengaluru. However, today the Okkaliga community remains underprivileged owing to various aspects in the society. We have to unite and make sure that all Okkaligas spread across the world come together under one roof to show their unity.” This was the clarion call given by Okkaliga Community leaders during the celebration of Kempegowda International festival in Dubai.
The Kempegowda International Festival, hosted by “Vishwa Okkaligara maha Vedike(VOMV)”, was held at Dubai’s prestigious Crowne Plaza hotel on Feb 04, 2017.
The guests were accorded a warm welcome with traditional percussion and ‘poornakumbha’.
Film director T S Nagabharana presided over the event which was participated by Seer Nirmalananda Swamiji, Seer Nanjavadootha Swamiji, former CM of Karnataka H D Kumaraswamy, former deputy CM R Ashok, sericulture and animal husbandry minister A Manju, MP C S Puttaraju, MLA and film star Ambareesh, welcoming committee chief Raveesh Gowda, Mr. Mohan Babu, Mr. Ravi Shankar, Mr. Zafrulla Khan among others.
Secretary of Vishwa Okkaligara Maha Vedike Ranganna welcomed all dignitaries and guests. President of VOMV, Y D Ravishankar in his introductory speech explained the visons and mission of VOMV and its works for community.
During the function, the “Nadaprabhu Kempegowda International Award” was conferred to several eminent personalities including famous businessman and chief of NMC hospitals UAE Dr. Padmashri B R Shetty, Prakash Shetty of MRG Groups Bengaluru, chief of Kasturi TV Anitha Kumaraswami, editor of E Sanje daily evening news paper T Venkatesh, K S Rangappa of Mysore university for excellence in educational field, politician C P Yogeshwar for service to society in water & irrigation field, R Anjaneya Reddy of Chkkaballapuara, Dr. Vasanth Kumar for his scientific excellence in agriculture based science field.
On behalf of all the award winners Dr. B R Shetty expressed his pleasure for choosing them for this prestigious award and wished all success to VOMV.
In the second segment of “Vishala Karnataka 60-Vishwa Kannadigara Sangama” celebrationswas held in presence of prof Dr. Doddarange Gowda. Several dance and folk art presentations representing Karnataka were presented.
In a stage program named “Horanada Nammavaru”, Kannadigas residing in different places of the world presented their views. Dr. Venkatesha Moorthi from Singapore, Shrinivas Rangam from Canada, Zafrulla Khan from Dubai, Babu from USA, Raghu Shivaram from California, Ben Chikkaswami from USA, Halekote Vishvamitra from USA, Amaranath Gowda from USA, Sarvottam Shetty from Abu Dhabi, and Ganesh Rai from Dubai presented their views and present situation of Kannadigas globally.
The third segment saw a celebration of the Sankranthi festival , “Sagaradaache Sankranthi Sambhrama”, which was presided by Purushotham Bilimale. Dr. Arathi Krishna of Karnataka state NRI Forum, Bharathi Shankar, president of Karnataka state woman empowerment dept., Sowbhagya Lakshmi of Bengaluru, Karunya Ram and Rachitha Ram of Karnataka film industry, Sumalatha Ambareesh and Vasanth Kumar Timakapura presented their views about Sankranthi and the roots connected to Kannadigas with celebration of the festival.
In meantime Mannina Deepagalu, book written by Dr. P Pandukumar, Kempegowda of Bengaluru written by Dr. B S Puttaswami and souvenir of celebration were released by dignitaries.
The whole program was compered by ace Kannada serial actor Nagesh. Many film stars, political leaders, community leaders of Okkaliga community from various places of world, community leaders of UAE, hundreds of Okkaliga community people who came across from various parts of the world witnessed the grand celebration of Kempegowda International convention.
