Cultural extravaganza marks UAE Bunts anniversary

Dubai, May 13: It was the 38th anniversary of UAE Bunts, a strong long standing community organisation for Tulunada Bunts existing in the UAE with a great number of members collectively holding get together and celebrating from many years.

This year's celebration held on May 11 in JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, was attended by a big record number of Bunt community members of more than 1400 numbers.

M.K. Lokesh, Ambassador of India in UAE was chief guest, while Kannada/Tulu film actor Shivdwaj Shetty was guest of honour. UAE Bunts patron, Padmashree Dr. B.R. Shetty along with wife Dr Chandrakumari B.R. Shetty were present throughout the function. Other guests include, Satishchandra Shetty, President Kuwait Bunts, Pradeep Shetty, President Bahrain Bunts & Mahesh Hegde, Vice President Saudi Bunts.

The programme started at around 11.00 am with golden voiced president Sarvotham Shetty opening up the event in his imitable style. The chief guests were called on to the stage and the show was inaugurated with the traditional lighting of the lamp. Soon after the inauguration was a Ganapathi Prayer by Aishwarya Ganesh Rai and Amrutha Vinaykumar Shetty.

Smitha Chowta presented the welcome speech and soon was welcome song by organisers from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Later was a welcome dance presented by Deepashri Jeevan Shetty and Divya from Abu Dhabi.

'Kannu Muchaale' a dance number by Rekha, Tanuja and Anita Jairam Shetty from Dubai Bunts was fabulous followed was another filmy dance number 'Chikni Chameli' by Surekha Jitu Shetty and Pawan Poojary. Also was "Suggi Kunitha' a folk dance with cute kids of Dubai was well presented by Usha V. Shetty and Praveen Shetty followed by Bollywood Dhamaka presented by Lakshmi R. Shetty and Nigel. A Kannada song 'Pankaja' was later rendered by Chetna, Babita & Prasanna from Dubai. All the dances were nicely performed by children and youth of Bunts.

Sarvotham Shetty then introduced the Bunts Committee and also introduced the new Committee for the coming year. Some of those whose wedding anniversary was on this particular day were also asked to come up on stage and exchange garlands with their spouse.

M.K. Lokesh, was felicitated by Dr. B.R. Shetty with shawl, flower bouquet, fruits and memento. Major sponsors of the event including Shekar B. Shetty of Arab Udupi Chain of Restaurants, Pravin Kumar Shetty of Fortune Group of Hotels, Sujath Shetty of Ghantoot Building Materials, Premnath Shetty of Heat Shield, Cine Actor Shivdwaj along with their wives plus Sudhir Kumar Shetty of UAE Exchange, Ganesh Rai and Sudhakar Alva were present on the stage during the ceremony. At the same time all the Sponsors were honoured with shawl and sweets.

H.E. Lokesh also released a 350 page UAE Bunts Directory 'Aisiri' which was later distributed to all the invitees and guests.

'Aisiri' beautifully designed attractive directory is being conceptualized by Creative Art Director, B.K. Ganesh Rai of GPR Advertising and Signage a sister concern of NMC Group. A committee was formed comprising of Sarvotham Shetty, Ganesh Rai, Sudhakar Alva, Ravindranath Shetty, Divesh Alva, Jayaram Rai, Uday Shetty, Satish Shetty, Anil Hegde, Nithyanand Shetty, Jayakar Rai, Sashikar Shetty, Satosh J. Shetty, Ravi Prasad Shetty, Vasu Kumar Shetty, Satish Shetty, Prashant Hegde, Jayananda Pakkala & Prabhakar Shetty who had worked day and night in compiling this great directory.

Followed was felicitation to guest of honour, cine actor Shivdwaj Shetty along with his wife and son. Mr Lokesh felicitated Shivdwaj with shawl, flower bouquet, fruit basket, memento and Ganesh Rai read out the felicitation letter and handed over the same to him.

Shivdwaj who recently was honoured with national award for his directorial venture Tulu Movie 'Gaggara' has also acted in another recently released Tulu Movie 'Bangarda Kural' and other Kannada movies. He was touched by the felicitation and thanked the organisation for the honours. He said I am proud to be a bunt and also shared his feelings later, while on the stage called for another event.

Mr Lokesh spoke few words in Kannada highlighting the contributions of Bunts Community to the world especially in the field of hospitality. He thanked the Bunts Community Organisation for serving the Indians in UAE for over 38 years contributing in various fields. His special mention is Padmashree Dr. B.R. Shetty whose enterprise have given shelter to so many Indians in UAE. He added, "wherever I go I see a Shetty in that organization, which means your community people are serving everywhere”

UAE Bunts also honoured the young and talented children of their community with 'Prathiba Puraskara' wherein Dr. B.R. Shetty along with his wife Dr. Chandrakumari B.R. Shetty presented the honours to various children who excelled in their academic studies with medals. Those children honoured were Shravya Suraj Shetty, Sanjana Ravi Shetty & Siddharth Satish Shetty.

In between the dance and singing Sarvotham Shetty conducted many spot games with fun and humour. This time giving much importance to Tulu Folk, Bunts conducted various competitions for both children and youth. Started with Folk Dance competition, various children participated in colourful folk and presented 'Koti Chennayya', 'Uttari Festival of Coorg', other combined folk dances comprising of Yakshagana, Bootha Aaradhane etc., and it was really nice to see sweet little children neatly dressed in traditional typical folk dress looking like miniatures.

Later with the Bunts talent was 'Mahishasura Mardhini' dance drama well presented by Vishwanath Shetty of Sharjah.

A wide spread buffet lunch was served to all the invitees with variety of salads, soups, main course including traditional Mangalorean curries and mix of desserts.

Soon after the lunch was 'Musical Orchestra by Kiran Shetty and Group well-presented and appreciated. The ladies throw ball team that achieved tremendous success all through the year in various occasions was also called upon on the stage and honoured.

UAE Bunts this time specially recognized and honoured few well known social workers for their exceptional dedicated humanitarian services and they were Shodhan Prasad, Sudhakar Alva and Balakrishna Salian who were invited on to the stage and felicitated with Mementos by Dr. B.R. Shetty in the presence of Actor Shivdwaj Shetty. Sarvotham Shetty read out some of those tragic events where these individuals shouldered their responsibilities including promotion of blood donation campaigns in UAE.

Continuing with the Talent competition was a skit by Neopharma Staff nicely presented by Santosh Shetty & Group followed by "Dashavatara" neatly presented by Soujanya & Group choreographed by Prasanna Poojary. Next was an emotional melo drama titled "Kargil Yodha" by Dubai Group choreographed by Rajesh Kuthar which deeply touched the heart of the audience who gave a standing ovation. Bunts from Abu Dhabi presented ladies dance by Smita Chowta & Group and was finely choreographed by Pawan Poojary. Before concluding was a Nrithya Roopaka 'Kaalinga Mardhana' well presented by Rajani Nagaraj Shetty of Al Ain. At the end Arun Alva presented a group dance called 'Patti Rap'.

The best talents were identified as follows

In children's category:

1st was 'Uttari Festival of Coorg' choreographed by Jasmitha Vivek Poojary

2nd was 'Abu Dhabi Dance Group' choreographed by Pawan Poojary

3rd was 'Koti Chennayya' choreographed by Rajesh Kuthar

In Bunts Talent Adult category:

1st won by 'Abu Dhabi Dance Group' Ladies choreographed by Pawan Poojary

2nd won by 'Dashavathara' by Soujanya & Group choreographed by Prasanna Poojary

3rd won by 'Kargil Yodha' by Dubai Group choreographed by Rajesh Kuthar

All the choreographers were called upon and honoured while the best choreography were won by Jasmitha Vivek Poojary & Pawan Poojary. Also, the judges of the talent competition were called upon and honoured with flower bouquet.

Concluding the event was Prize distribution followed by Raffle Draw. Sarvotham Shetty who compeered the daylong event along with Sampath Shetty, Mangala Shetty, Reshma Divesh Alva & Jyotika Shetty, also conveyed the vote of thanks.