Bunts culture comes alive in Oman

Muscat, November 29: Grandeur and enthusiasm marked the silver Jubilee family get together of Bunt expatriates in the Sultanate of Oman, wherein dozens of Bunts from different parts of Karnataka came together as one family.

The 25th annual gala, began on November 23 at Barka Guttu in Oman, was a perfect blend of dazzling cultural and feasting extravaganza. The event was preceded by the historic ethnic sports and cultural meet, the Kesaru Gadde Sports, held at the same venue on November 26.

A traditional Guttu house theme was set up by Divakar Shetty, MD of Multitech Contracting LLC and with his amazing creativity he made everyone feel that they were back in their native place. Theme was a rare panorama and an opportunity to recall the lost glory with fond remembrance. The yard was complete with Tulasi Katte, Tuppe, Padi Manchav, Guwell, Basale Dompa, Aritta Mudi, graced by fighter roasters and cattle. The Chavadi was exceptional with traditional pillars with Koral, agricultural accessories and miniatures hanging from the wall and there were even cucumbers (soute kai) dangling from the beams. The stage was set up with a backdrop of a lush green farming field.

The warm welcome at the entrance with a nourishing tender coconut, Mangalore Mallige (jasmine) and Haldi Kumkum. The entrance door was decorated with marigold flowers, Pingara, and mango leaves, and a beautiful logo was presented complete with actual Kalase, paddy, Pingara Flower, lamp, beetel leaf, areca nut etc, greeting the members of Oman Bunts and the guests. All the organizers were dressed in the traditional attire.

The  rhythmic beats of the panchavaadya,  Poorna Kumbha , Hore Kaanike, Karadi Kunita,’Bonte’ etc welcomed the guests and the community members  at the entrance over the Red carpet .

Dr M Mohan Alva and Vijayakumar Shetty , were the chief guests and Sarvottam Shetty,  Timmayya B Shetty, Sudheer Shetty , Sudhakar K Shetty Makara, Gautam shetty Mumbai , Sujath shetty , Sundar Shetty, Dayanand Shetty  from UAE along with other dignitaries from India and  Dubai also graced the occasion.

The programme began with Shashidhar Shetty Mallar welcoming the guests. This was followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp and Sloka recitation by the ladies wing of the organizing committee. The program commenced with a prayer dance by the disciples of Rama Rajshekhar.

The committee members, under the able guidance of the Convenor Shashidhar Shetty Mallar, have impeccably conducted and devoted all their efforts undauntedly towards the proceedings of the day-long event. The whole event was meticulously organized by Saroja S Shetty and Shashidhar Shetty Mallar, Mallika S Shetty and Shankar T Shetty, Sudheera D Shetty and Divakar K Shetty, Jayalaxmi N Shetty and Narayan Shetty, Roopa Shetty and Rathnakar N Shetty, Jayanthi C.Shetty Chandrashekar Shetty , Vanishree Shetty and Nagesh Shetty,  Mamata S Shetty and Surendra Shetty, Thrishori P Bhandary and Prasidh Bhandary, Pallavi Shetty and Sharath Shetty, and Vinay Shetty.

Amidst immense applaud, chief guests addressed the gathering, expressed their astonishment on organizing such unbelievable event in Muscat.

Dr Alva highlighted  the importance of Bunts ladies and family values. Vijaykumar Shetty rendered a thought provoking speech on value education, Sarvottam Shetty insisted on strengthening bunts relationship and Sudheer shetty stressed on revitalizing Bunts traditional joint family, Guttu house and agriculture. Timmayya Shetty appreciated Bunts of Oman on their achievements. Guests were felicitated by the committee members.  Also Divakar Shetty was felicitated by Dr Mohan Alva for his excellent creation of ‘Barka Guttu’.

To commensurate this memorable occasion a Souvenir  “ Bolli Siri’ was released by the Guests  and distributed among the members and sent to dignitaries in Middle-east and India.  The whole event was conducted and compered by Kalladi Shanker T Shetty who kept the audience entertained with his great sense of humour and spontaneity.

A record number of 700 members attended the function. Guests enjoyed an assortment of traditional breakfast in the morning, lunch with variety of dishes cooked at the venue and served on banana leaves followed by Golibaje, Bonda, Podi, Tea etc in the evening. The buffet Dinner comprised a wide range of ethnic Bunts vegetarian and non-vegetarian items. The arrangements were personally supervised by Shashidhar Shetty Mallar, Rathnakar shetty and Narayan Shetty .

There were a host of cultural events like Skits, Folk dances, Group dances which gave the event a traditional touch and were liked and appreciated everyone. The children had the audience engrossed with their talents.   Sai swaroop Rai (Two in one creative presentation) Sudhin shetty team (Suggi Dance), Tushar shetty (Kaaliya mardhana) Kishan Shetty, Bhavna shetty, Natasha Shetty , presented variety of performances , Mahesh Shetty Namana team’s diverse entertainment performances enthralled the crowd . Surendra Shetty team Kannada Skit , Pradeep Shettys Drama ‘Alexander’ , Sudhin Shettys tulu drama ‘Veera DevaPoonja.’  Prasad Shetty teams Dolllu kunita  etc entertained the audience.

The entertainment programes  were culminated in breathtakling Yaskhagaana ‘Sudhanva Moksha’ presented and performed by Chandrashakar Shetty along with Umesh shetty , Rajendra shetty, Sushma Kishan Shetty, Pavana and Bhakti.

Dance numbers were choreographed by Rama Rajashekar Shetty and Deepa Kiran Shetty. The programme was coordinated by Surendra Shetty, Prasiddh Bhandary and Sharath Shetty.  Mulltimedia presentation was done by Nagesh Shetty. DJ support by Ganesh Shetty.

Winners of the various competitions and participants of the entertainment events ,Biggest looser is the winner , Bunts Blood Donars Team were felicitated by the Bunts patrons and Sponsors.

The entire event was well co-ordinated and many volunteers ably assisted  in the various aspects  of the function. All the members stayed on right to the end but yet the evening seemed too short.

Shankar Shetty Shetty informally formed a committee of enthusiastic bunts for next year’s Bunts Get-together.  Also he  expressed his gratefulness to Shanker Shetty Wadi sarooj, Ganesh shetty STS, Rathnakar Shetty Modern, Vinodh shetty GLMC,  Athul shetty , Uttam Kumar Rai , Vasudev Shetty, Chandrashekar shetty, Suresh J shetty, Vivek J shetty, Krishnaprasad shetty iffco,  Shankar shetty Al aboor, Vinay Shetty (MP pandya)  M.Shetty Blue Sea, Prasad shetty, Rajendra shetty  Blue line, Mahesh Shetty, Sandesh shetty, , Chandramohan Bhandary, Praveen kumar Shetty RAMEE, Jayapal shetty , Jaganath rai, Kishan Shetty, Sampath kumar shetty, Ujwal kumar shetty, Arun kumar rai, Jairaj shetty, Naveen Chandra shetty, Santhosh shetty Oriental, Gananath Bhandary, Prasad Shetty, Prathap shetty, Pradeep Shetty, Vasanth K Shetty , Shiva Prakash rai, Richar Disouza, Narayan kotian, BG adapa, Bhaskar shetty, Chidambara shetty, Bhoaj M shetty, Ashok Shetty, Vasanth Shetty, NB Shetty, Hariprasad shetty, Umesh S shetty for their support and members of Oman Bunts who helped in successfully organizing the mega show.

Vote of thanks and a closing speech by Shashidhar Shetty mallar  brought down the curtains to a highly successful, cheerful, splendid and joyous event. All Bunts residing in Oman participated and interacted joyously till midnight and left to home, fondly hoping that the legacy of the annual Oman Bunts gathering continues. Such gatherings not only revives bunts uniqueness but also preserves and promotes ethnic and enriching heritage of coastal Karnataka.