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Dubai, the land of dreams is also of land of dynamism. I say this because, every time I visit this beautiful land, I feel that the last memory of the splendid land is lost in new innovative changes.
 
This land has something new to boast of, so I prefer to call it land of changes. That is the simple introduction that I can think of for this city.

I will not be wrong, if I say that there is a huge contribution of Kannadigas in general and people from coastal belt in specific for the development of the city.
 
There are lakhs of people from our undivided Dakshina Kannada who have been toiling in Dubai-the commercial hotspot of the world, over the last several decades, contributing to the progress of the city. A part of their earnings reach our coastal belt, thereby building a strong connection between the coastal Karnataka and Dubai.
 
On September 18, I made my third visit to Dubai and I will undoubtedly say that the reason for my third visit is history in itself.
 
For the first time in the history of the city, Ganeshotsava was organised on a public platform by Tuluvas and I had the good fortune of being an integral part of the event, sharing the stage with Udupi-Chikamagaluru MP Shobha Karandalaje and other dignitaries.

Well, when I say new changes, seeing Lord Ganesh in Dubai that too in a public platform, in itself is a big change.
The event was the result of the hard work and perseverance of thousands of people, representing about 64 various organisations connected to Tulunadu who toiled to make the first sarvajanika Ganeshothsav a reality in the distant Middle East city.
 
A romping 2500 devotees from coastal Karnataka took part in the event, right from bringing home Lord Ganesha to bidding an adieu for this year. The devotees took out the procession of the Lord of good health to the immersion spot and sang in glory of the supreme god urging him to return to them the following year.
 
The organisers left no stone unturned to give the event the local Karavali touches. While the ’Pili Vesha’ (tiger dance) brought the fragrance of Tuluva culture, the ’Bhajans’ and hymns brought in slice of spirituality and devotion.
 
It was indeed a happy moment for me to see how the Tuluvas living in Dubai have clung on to their culture and also made an attempt to celebrate an important festival just the way they would celebrate if there were in their homeland.
 
Our people may have been living in one of the most developed places in the world, their aspirations might be as high as the skyscrapers that they have been living in, but their heart lives in their homeland and the culture attached to it.
 Kudos to all the hands that brought Lord Ganesh to Dubai and good wishes to all the hearts that are now eagerly waiting to bring him back to Dubai next year.