Abu Dhabi: Tradition, grandeur mark World Bunts Day

Abu Dhabi, May 3: Hundreds of Bunts participated in the colourful World Bunts Day organized by UAE Bunts at the Armed Forces Club, Abu Dhabi on April 25.

The traditional festivities started at 10 am under the leadership of Sarvotham Shetty, president of UAE Bunts. All the VIPs and guests of the day were welcomed with traditional drum beats (chande) troupe, including men and women dressed in Indian traditional attires. A special attraction of the programme was that everybody was dressed in traditional Bunts attire, reflecting the rich culture of their homeland. A variety of colourful group dances were presented by children and adults.

The programme was presided over by Padmashree Dr B R Shetty, patron UAE Bunts, inaugurated by Sri Sri Sri Dr Vidyavachaspati Vishwa Santhosh Bharathi Sripadaru, Bhargava Beedu, Barkur Udupi district.

The prestigious 'Bunta Vibhushana' Award institutred by UAE Bunts was conferred on Vijayanath Vittal Shetty, well-known Indian entrepreneur and businessman and trustee of Bhoothanatheshwara Temple Mijar. He was felicitated with a shawl, Mysore Peta, memento and Sanmana Patra. After a brief introduction of organizers Manoj Shetty and Varna Shetty were felicitated. The felicitation programme was compered by Jyothika Shetty.

The programme continued with more dances by children, namely by Blues Diamond Abu Dhabi and freestyle Bollywood mix by Avirath and team, Dubai. Yakshagana Rupaka by Shashi Shetty and Guru Shetty was beautifully performed by the groups and received a huge applause from the audience.

The important session held on the occasion was group discussion about Bunts tradition, culture, 'Achara Vichara' and Tulu/Kannada language. During these discussions several members of the audience raised important questions. Appropriate and meaningful answers were given by guests who came from the different parts of world to attend the event which made atmosphere very homely.

A delicious mouth-watering buffet was arranged in an open skylight area of auditorium adding charm to the atmosphere. After the lunch five teams (Kithoora Rani Chennamma, Krishnadevaraya, Rani Abbakka, Onake Obavva and Sangoli Rayanna) participated in the group dance competition. The competition was mind blowing and a tough job for judges Vijay Kumar Shetty of Kala Jagathu, Mumbai, Ganesh Hegde, Bollywood choreographer, Mumbai and Vijayanatha Vittal Shetty, businessman from Mumbai to decide, as all the performances were praiseworthy and received a huge round of applause from the audiance. However, the judges had to make a decision and the final results were as follows: Ist prize – Sangolli Rayanna group, choereographed by Prasanna Shetty and Sachin Mada, Dubai, 2nd prize – Krishnadevaraya, choreographed by Jasmitha Vivek, Dubai, 3rd prize – Onake Obavva, choregraphed by Pawan, Abu Dhabi

The best choregrapher prize went to Prasanna Shetty and Sachin Mada. They were awarded with winning tropies and cash prizes.

The main sponsors of World Bunts Day were: NMC group and UAE Exchange - Dr B R Shetty, ULB - Pradeep Kumar, Bangalore , Northern Sky Properties, Dubai, Khain Properties, Dubai, Heat Sheild - Premnath Shetty,  Arab Udupi Group - S B Shetty, Base ID Décor - Chethan Shetty, Structcon - Ravi Shetty, Gantout Building Materials - Sujat Shetty, Ace Crane Systems - Gunsheel Shetty, Focus Direct - Umesh Shetty and Fortune Group of Hotel - Praveen Shetty.

Winner of Shaikh Hamdan Awardees, and throwball champions were felicitated on the occasion. The kids' dance group got presents for their performance.

Sudheer Kumar Shetty, COO UAE Exchange Global was felicitated on the auspicious occasion for his achievements and for receiving two international awards as NRI personality of the year recently.

The cultural programmes were compered by Mangala Shetty, Sampath Shetty, Jyothica Shetty and Reshma Alva.

'Bale Telipaale' the famous hilarious skits were enjoyed by the audience during three sessions of the programme. Towards the end, a raffle draw was held and prizes were distributed on the spot.

CA Shankar Shetty, president of Bunts Sangha, Mumbai made the concluding remarks and suggested how to take this "World Bunts Day" forward year after year with the help of worldwide Bunts Sanghas. He wholeheartedly praised the event organized by the UAE Bunts.

B R Shetty of NMC thanked Sarvotham Shetty for his hard work and dedication and for making this 40th get-together of UAE Bunts and World Bunts Day a most memorable one.

The entire programme captured the beauty of Bunt harmony and highlighted the tradition, culture and unity of Tulunadu.

UAE Bunts president Sarvotham Shetty coordinated the entire programme with the help of Vijay Kumar Shetty and organizing committee members of UAE Bunts.

A galaxy of dignitaries from across the world participated in the felicitation function including Sri Santhosh Guruji, Peetadhyaksharu, Sri Barkur Maha Samsthanam, Dr B R Shetty, Grand Patron, UAE Bunts, Ajith Kumar Maladi, president, Matru Buntara Sangha, Mangalore, CA Shankar Shetty, president, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai, Shyam Shetty, president, Bunts Association, Mumbai, Dr Satyaprakash Shetty, president, Mulund Bunts,  Bhaskar Shetty Santhoor, president, Belgaum Bunts Sangha, Vijayanath Vittal Shetty, president, Bunts Sangha, Bajpe, Shashidhar Shetty, president, Oman Bunts Sangha, Mahesh Hegde, president, Saudi Arabia Bunts Sangha, Neema Sharad Shetty, representing Australia Bunts, Sudhakar Shetty, ex-president, Kuwait Bunts, Tulu Koota and Kannada Sangha KWT, Satishchandra Shetty, ex-president, Kuwait Bunts, Tulu Koota and Kannada Sangha KWT, K.Vishwanatha Shetty, vice-president, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai, Chandrashekar Shetty, secretary, Bunts Association, Mumbai, Rathnakar Shetty, chairman, Mathrubhoomi, Mumbai, A Satish Shetty, treasurer, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai, A Surendra Shetty, treasurer, Bunts Association, Mumbai, Mohandas Shetty, joint secretary, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai, Suresh Shetty, trustee, Port Trust, Mangalore, Rajesh Shetty, president, Bahrain Kannada Sangha, Vijay Kumar Shetty, president, Kala Jagathu, Mumbai - Recipient of Rajyotsava Award, Nagriguthu Vivek Shetty, ex-president, Mulund Bunts, Raghuram Rai, president, Bunts Sangha, Belthangadi, Pravin Shetty, Jt.Treasurer, Bunts Sangha, Mumbai, Ganesh Hegde, cheoreographer, Bollywood, Mumbai, Gaokar, joint commissioner, sales tax, Mangalore, Gopal Y Shetty, Bunts Association, Mumbai, Gopal Y Shetty, Bunts Association, Mumbai, Adv Jayanth Shetty, Bunts Association, Mumbai, Harish Punja, high court lawyer, and Dr Shivsharan Shetty, Director, Namma TV.