The sixth ‘Vishwa Kannada Samskriti Sammelan (World Kannada Cultural Convention) concluded with grand celebrations at Sheikh Rashid auditorium here on Saturday November 21. The sammelan was jointly organized by Karnataka Sangh Dubai and ‘Hrudayavahini’ publication.

The second day of the two-day celebrations was dotted with various meets and award ceremonies. The business meet was held under the presidentship of Yajnanarayana Kemmaje. Auditor Srinivas Achar and Harman Lewis of Spice Radio delivered talks at the meet.

The NRI Gulf Kanndigas’ meet assumed a great significance. Minister J Krishna Palemar, Gangadhar Gowda from BJP, entrepreneur B R Shetty and Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangh president Sarvottam Shetty were present.

At the meet, Sharjah Karnataka Sabgh former president Prabhakar Ambalatere and Veerendra, Dubai highlighted the problems faced by NRI Kannadigas, especially Gulf Kannadigas. Ambalatere demanded that among others there was a need for medical facilities at the Mangalore airport. Sarvottam Shetty brought out certain problems faced by the NRI Kannadigas such as misleading of NRI buyers by real estate dealers, government encroachment of NRI properties and also demanded making Indian students in gulf eligible to write CET and ration cards for NRIs among others.

A poetesses’ meet under the presidentship of Neelaganga Charantimath and media meet under the presidentship of Shridhar of Udaya TV were held. Mahabalamurthy Kondlakere, litterateur and journalist Manohar Tonse and Ganesh Rai spoke on the occasion.

Pratibha Puraskar

The award ceremony was held under the presidentship of E V Satyanarayan of Prajavani. Sammelan president Veteran litterateur Dr Siddalinga Patanashetty was present. C R Shetty honoured Karnataka Sangh president and Mayura awardee Ganesh Rai, Daiiworld Media Private Limited editor-in-chief Walter Nandalike, Harman Lewis of Spice Radio, Nritya Vidushi Doordarshan artiste Namita Anant, former international cricketer Dayanand Bangera, Anil Basagi of Bahrain, Yoganand of Muscat, Shivaram of Kasargod, Akkikalu Venkatesh of Chikmagalur and Veeresh Rudraswami of Badami with Pratibha Puraskar. Bahrain Kannada Sangha president Austin Santosh was special guest at the ceremony.

Vishwamanya Award and Valedictory Ceremony

C R Shetty welcomed cine actor Puneet Rajkumar to the valedictory ceremony held under the presidentship of Pattanashetty.

Udupi Member of Parliament D V Sadananda Gowda, B R Shetty, Karnataka Housing Board president G T devegowda, Shashi Shetty, Shekhar babu Shetty, R Ravi, B R Gopala Gowda, Praveen Shetty, Raveesh owda, James Mendonca, Girish Shetty and Krishnaraja Tantri were present.

C R Shetty representing Dubai Karnataka Sangha, Kuwait Tulukoota former president Elias Sanctis, N M Shetty, Baroda and V R Deshpande Trust, Haliyal among others received Vishwamanava Award

Cultural Extravagannza

Various troupes from Karnataka and local talent performed wide variety of cultural programmes that included musical nite.