NEWS: Shodhan Prasad
Photos: Studio to Home
Dubai:Sandhya Creations Event Network Team (SCENT) staged the fourth season of Aatidonji Dina at the Millennium Airport Hotel, Al Garhoud, Dubai, on Sunday. The full-day programme drew an enthusiastic crowd of more than 2,000 Tuluvas and Kannadigas from across the UAE and ran from morning into late evening with a mix of ritual, food, music and community competitions.
The day began with a bright procession outside the hotel. Traditional drummers led the march, women in ethnic dress carried kalasha, and Laxmi Poojary appeared as Aati Kalanja, giving the procession a distinctly local flavour. The mood was celebratory from the first step, and large numbers of families followed the parade into the venue.
Inauguration and rituals
The formal part of the programme opened with video introductions of the three chief guests who had travelled from India. The chief guests were Shri Shri Shri Gurudevananda Swamiji of Odiyoor, Rev. Fr. Denis D’sa, Parish Priest of Thottam Church, Udupi, and Moulana Abdul Azeez Darimi, Imam of Chokkabettu. They joined sponsors and dignitaries on a stage that had been decorated with fresh vegetables, rice murrah, kalasha, cultural artifacts and a grand lamp.
The guests performed a number of traditional rites as part of the inauguration. They took part in the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, the unveiling of the pingara, the pouring of water onto a jasmine plant, and the sprinkling of holy water. In a final ritual symbolising prosperity, the invited guests filled a traditional rice bowl with rice to mark the formal start of Aatidonji Dina 2025.
Chief guests, sponsors and partners
SCENT welcomed a strong list of sponsors and supporting partners. Main sponsor was Devika Acharya of Tanvi Group of Companies. Title sponsors were Vishwanath Prabhu and Jayashree Prabhu of V3 Integrated Solutions. Gold sponsors were Arvind Uchil and Sachin C.A. of New Shield Insurance Broker. Pravin Kumar Shetty, President of Karnataka NRI Forum and UAE Bunts, acted as hospitality partner. Dr. Frank Devid Fernandes, MD of Mosaco Shipping & Forwarding Company, was listed as patron. Siraj Ahmed of Saheban Welfare Trust, DK & Udupi District had specially travelled from Mangalore to attend. Many other well-wishers, sponsors and members of the Sandhya Creations Event Network Team stood on stage during the inauguration.
MC, screens and the welcome
Shodhan Prasad welcomed the gathering and introduced the evening’s main compere, MC Prashant CK of Daijiworld fame. Prashant took charge of formal proceedings and kept the audience engaged with his easy style. Short digital video clippings that introduced the chief guests were shown on the LED screen before the dignitaries were invited to the stage for the rituals and the official opening of the event.
Community food festival and stalls
One of the busiest parts of the day was the Community Food Stalls area. SCENT opened its stall featuring the traditional Methe Ganji served with a variety of chutneys, and the chief guests personally served the first helpings. In all there were 14 community stalls and 6 other stalls. Community groups that ran food stalls included Mogaveers UAE led by Bala Salian; Brahmana Samaja Dubai led by Shiva Bhat; Shree Vishwakarma Seva Samiti led by Kiran Rao; Amchi Friends led by Sudarshan Hegde; Mangalore Konkans led by Stephen Menezes; UAE Bunts led by Chaitra Shetty; Rajaka Family led by Mokshit Ramesh; KADAM led by Manjunath Devadiga; Udupi Balaga led by Rajesh Radhvi; Krishna Jyothi Stall by Krishna and Jyothi; Kannadigara Koota led by Arun Kumar; Margadeepa Samskrutika Samiti led by Sugandhraj Bekal; and UAE Ganiga Family led by Supreeth Ganiga.
Each stall displayed seasonal Aati specialities with bright decorations and attracted long queues. The aroma of freshly prepared dishes filled the hall as visitors moved from stall to stall tasting regional flavours from Tulunadu.
Health, services and sponsor activities
Several organisations added services and support to the event. Grand Infinity Medical Centre had a dedicated stall offering free medical check-ups including dental consultations with a team of doctors, nurses and caregivers. Riva Laser & Medical Centre provided free medical consultations while Vision & Style Opticals offered complimentary eye check-ups and discounted lenses. S.B.N. Trading displayed hygiene products and the Pranic Healing Foundation shared guidance on holistic healing. Udupi Brindavan Restaurant sponsored gift vouchers that were distributed during quiz games and other audience interactions hosted by MC Prashant CK.
Judging and food competition
The independent judge for the food competition was Mr. William Apose, a professional chef with over 17 years’ experience in Dubai’s hospitality industry, now serving as a Senior Sales and Operations Manager. Mr. Apose visited each counter, tasted the entries and evaluated the offerings before the winners were announced at the end of the programme.
Cultural performances
Aati dance and folk presentations were important parts of the programme. Vidhushi Shashi Rekha presented an Aati Dance with her disciples, many of them children. The choreography, supported by audio-visual elements, highlighted rituals such as preparation of Aati Kashaya and Methe Ganji and gave the audience a clear view of the tradition.
UAE Bunts staged a cultural presentation titled Aatida Gauji. The performance featured artistes Vasu Shetty, Gokuldas, Nishmitha, Master Atharva Shetty, Kumari Prisha, Vivian B. Shetty, Megha Shetty and Seetharam Shetty, with stage support by Sandeep Shetty and Vicky Shetty. The act was coordinated by Dinesh Shetty Kottinja and was well received for its authenticity.
A 33-member troupe from Muscat led by Vidhushi Smt. Theerta Kateel of Bhramari Nrithya Fine Arts LLC performed under the banner of Karnataka Janapada Parishad, Oman Ghataka. This was their first-ever performance on a Dubai stage. The troupe leader Shivananda Kotian and senior member Walter Mendonca were specially honoured for their contribution.
Classical solo and dance schools
A classical solo by Sonia Lobo was one of the visual highlights. Sonia, a Bharatanatyam and semi-classical dancer who also works as an MC and mentor, gave a polished performance and later served as one of the judges for the dance competition.
Roopa Kiran and the Nritha Shakti Dance Troupe also presented a strong piece. Roopa, an eminent Bharatanatyam exponent and teacher at Amity International School, Sharjah, led her students in a display of technical skill and stagecraft.
Music and live singing
Live singing and an orchestra added further colour. Sandeep Acharya led the orchestra and was joined by performers including Prashant CK, Shravya Gowda, Ashok Bailur, Dinesh Doddannagudde, Dr. Santhosh Kemminje, Lancy Noronha, Sanchita, Carol Danthy and Karthik. Their renditions were warmly received and kept the audience engaged between other items on the programme.
Competitions, judges and results
The organisers held six major group competitions to bring community groups together and to encourage participation. The competitions were Ethnic Food, Fancy Dress, Small Skit, Humor Poetic Recitation, Group Folk Dance and Group Folk Song Singing. Rules and judging criteria had been communicated in advance and the decisions of the independent judges were final.
Carol Priya Danthy, a Mangalorean vocalist well known in the Konkani community, judged the Singing and Humor Poetic Recitation competitions. After judging was complete, all judges were invited on stage and felicitated.
The results were announced as follows
Ethnic Food Competition — First place was a tie between Mangalore Konkans and Udupi Balaga. Second place went to Al Ain Kannada Sangha and third place to Amchi Friends. Specialty prizes were given to Rajaka Family, Margadeepa Sanskrutika Samiti, Amchi Friends, Udupi Balaga and Mangalore Konkans.
Fancy Dress Competition — First place Mangalore Konkans, second place Brahmana Samaj.
Small Skit Competition — First place Al Ain Kannada Sangha, second place UAE Bunts.
Humor Poetic Recitation Competition — First place was a tie between Al Ain Karnataka Sangha and Mangalore Konkans. Second place Mangalore Konkans.
Group Folk Dance Competition — First place Brahmana Samaja UAE, second place KADAM.
Group Folk Song Singing — First place Al Ain Kannada Sangha, second place UAE Bunts.
The rolling trophy for the highest overall score across all competitions was awarded to Mangalore Konkans. The trophy was handed over by Brahmana Samaja UAE, winners of the previous year, in a ceremonial gesture.
Hosts, honours and special mentions
During the formal sabha karyakrama, the chief guests and main sponsors were seated on stage. MCs Prashant and Shravya led the proceedings and the organisers honoured sponsors, well-wishers, community stall owners, media representatives, Ramya and her RDRK Events Team, and Mahesh from the hotel management.
Shodhan Prasad invited MCs Prashant and Shravya on stage and felicitated them for their compering. The three chief guests Shri Shri Shri Gurudevananda Swamiji of Odiyoor, Rev. Fr. Denis D’sa of Thottam Church, Udupi, and Moulana Abdul Azeez Darimi, Imam of Chokkabettu, were honoured with dry fruit baskets, shawls, mementos and garlands.
Siraj Ahmed, representing SAHEBANS KUDLA and the Islam community, who had travelled from Mangalore, was felicitated with a shawl, flowers and a memento for his presence and support.
Organisation, leadership and recognition
Aatidonji Dina was originally conceptualised by Shodhan Prasad and has grown into an established cultural brand. SCENT is the first organisation to take this celebration onto an international stage. For the 2025 season, Sandhya Prasad led the organisation and management of the event. Her coordination and leadership were acknowledged when she was presented the Best Leader of the Year 2025 Award by SCENT.
The event was delivered by a core committee and a larger sub-committee. Core Committee Members named by SCENT included Shodhan Prasad, Sandhya Prasad, Alwyn Pinto, Nityanand Beskoor, Sudarshan Hegde, Ashok Bailur, Manoj Poojary, Kiran Kottary, Veena Hegde, Kiran Beskoor and Roopa Kiran. Sub-Committee Members who worked across the event included Anand, Sharath, Roshan, Anish, Kiran Kumar, Akshat, Nagesh, Prashant Nayak, Reshma D’Souza, Sudhir Suvarna, Murali Shetty, Sachin, Nithin, Chetan, Rakshita, Ravindra Vokkaliga, Raghu Kini and Nithin.
Broadcast and closing note
The entire programme was broadcast live on Daijiworld TV channels and streamed across social media platforms, allowing audiences in other countries to view the celebration. SCENT expressed heartfelt thanks to all who contributed their time, skills and funds to make Aatidonji Dina 2025 a success. The organisers said the festival could not have happened without the support of community members, sponsors and well-wishers, and they thanked everyone who took part.
On the whole the event delivered what it set out to be: a day of food, ritual, performance and friendly competition, bringing together the Tulunadu community in one place and giving families a chance to share their culture far from home.
