Dubai, July 26: The 55th International Cultural Fest and Cultural Exchange Programme, organised by the International Cultural Fest Council of India in association with Sandhya Creations Event Network Team (SCENT), concluded at the Grand Excelsior Hotel Banquet Hall in Bur Dubai on Sunday.
The event brought together community leaders from Karnataka, award recipients, artistes from India and performers based in the UAE, celebrating Indian culture through literature, music, theatre, dance and social service.
The programme began with a welcome address by Er. K. P. Manjunath Sagar, Chairman of the World Kannada Cultural Convention Committee 2004 and Editor-Director of Hrudayavahini News, who spoke about the importance of preserving Indian cultural heritage across the world.
Shodhan Prasad Attavar, Founder of Sandhya Creations Event Network Team (SCENT), welcomed the gathering and introduced master of ceremonies Nithin Kumar, who anchored the event.
The programme was inaugurated with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp in the presence of Shri Shri Maheshwara Swamiji of Nandipura, Sarvothama Shetty, President of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, M. Jayaram Rai, former President of the Indian Social and Cultural Centre, Abu Dhabi, Shashidar Nagarajappa, President of Karnataka Sangha Dubai, Arun Kumar, President of Kannada Koota Dubai, N. T. Thammanna, Secretary of Narasimhagiri Education Institution, Smt. Sridevi R. V. Nayak, social worker from Raichur who presided over the function, Dr. E. Anjaneya, entrepreneur and social worker, Dr. Satish Kumar Hosamani, Director of the SSK Department of Education, Government of Karnataka, Dr. Kikkeri Krishnamurthy, President of the K. S. Narasimhaswamy Trust, Government of Karnataka, and Shodhan Prasad Attavar representing SCENT Dubai.
Among the guests from the UAE were Smt. Sandhya Prasad of SCENT, actor Ashok Bailur, Sugandraj Bekal of Marghadeepa Samskruthika Samiti UAE, Mallikarjuna Gowda representing Karnataka Sangha Dubai and Veerashaiva Lingayat Samaja Dubai, Alwyn Pinto of Mangalore Konkans, Harish and Meena Kodi of Kodagu Dakshina Kannada Gowda Samaja, Satish Ullal of Billavas Family Dubai and several other community leaders, who were honoured during the programme.
A major attraction of the evening was the presentation of the Golden Iconic Awards to individuals recognised for their contributions in medicine, literature, education, theatre, music and social service.
The awardees included Dr. P. V. Pattar for Herbal Medicine and Homeopathy, Dr. Satish Kumar Hosamani for Literature and Education, N. T. Thammanna for Education and Social Service, V. K. M. Thimmayya of Bengaluru for Theatre, Vijayalakshmi Vasudeva for Music, Sampath Kumar for Theatre, Lakshman Suvarna for Music, Dr. Gouramma Kalaburgi for Education and Social Service, and Maruthi Badiger for Social Service.
The event also featured Emirati television, comedy and theatre actor Abdullah Al Jafali, a member of Dubai Al Ahli Theatre with more than three decades of experience. After watching the programme, he was invited on stage and honoured with a special memento. Greeting the audience with a “Namaskara” in Kannada, he later joined the dignitaries in presenting awards and mementoes to awardees, guests, community leaders and artistes.
The cultural segment began with a comedy and mimicry performance by Kogali Kotresh Kudligi, who entertained the audience with mimicry, beatboxing and imitation of percussion instruments.
Dr. Aishwarya Srinivas of Abu Dhabi then presented a Bharatanatyam recital, earning appreciation for her expressive performance.
Veteran theatre artistes of VKM Kalavidaru, Bengaluru, staged the Kannada social drama Saakshi Kallu. The play featured V. K. M. Thimmayya, Sampath Kumar, Manjunath, Nagarathna and Mala, and conveyed a social message that was well received by the audience.
A multilingual poets’ meet, presided over by Irshad Moodabidri, showcased the literary diversity of Karnataka. Original poems were presented by Shashidar Nagarajappa in Kannada, Lancy Noronha in Tulu and Kannada with humour, Dr. Satish Kumar Hosamani in Kannada, Yashoda Bhat in Kannada, Sannu Monis in Konkani with Kannada translation, while Irshad Moodabidri concluded the session with a poetic narration.
The programme concluded with a musical performance featuring Kannada Bhavageethe and evergreen Kannada film songs presented by Dr. Kikkeri Krishnamurthy, Vijayalakshmi Vasudeva, Lakshman Suvarna, Shodhan Prasad and Nithin Kumar.
Nithin Kumar was appreciated for anchoring the programme and was presented with a commemorative memento.
The organisers said the festival served as a platform to showcase Karnataka’s cultural heritage by bringing together literature, poetry, music, dance, theatre, comedy and social service. They said the event reflected the spirit of cultural harmony, artistic excellence and international friendship while strengthening Dubai’s position as a vibrant centre for Indian cultural activities.
