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Mumbai, Mar 19: Konkani language and cultural foundation, Vishwa Konkani Kendra, Mangaluru held a two day long Vishwa Konkani Loka Kala Festival Shigmotsava at Eknath Thakur auditorium, Mahim on Saturday March 18 under the aegis of Karnataka government department of Kannada and culture.

The programme was presided over by Vishwa Konkani Kendra Mangaluru, Konkani language and cultural foundation founder president Basti Vaman Shenoy. Rayan International Educational group of institutes founder Grace Pinto was the chief guest. Kavitha P Acharya, NKGSB bank executive president Kishore Kulkarni, Saraswath Bank director Kishore Rangnekar and businessman K Ullas Kamath were present as guests of honor.Vishwa Konkani Kendra (World Konkani Centre - WKC) was founded by Konkani Language & Cultural Foundation to serve as a hub to preserve, develop and propagate Konkani Language, Art & Culture involving all Konkani people world over.

Sathish Rama Nayak, Ullas D Kamath, Umesh Pai, T V Shenoy, Francis Fernandes Cascia, Leo Fernandes, Philip Kanjoormarg, U N Kini, Benedicta Rebello and hundreds of art lovers were present. A homage was held for late Vijayanatha Shenoy at the beginning of the programme. Shigmotsava Mumbai committee convener Dr Chandrashekar N Shenoy welcomed everyone. Kala Coast Balaga sang a welcome song under the guidance of Mukund Pai. Anupama Shenoy presented an Odyssey dance skit.

Uppinakudru Bhasker Kogga Kamath and party presented puppetry as part of the cultural programme. Uday Mallya compered the programme. Vice president of the centre Venkatesh N Baliga proposed the vote of thanks.

This maiden World Konkani Convention convened at Mangaluru in the year 1995, under the leadership of Basti Vaman Shenoy (Konkani Sardar), was the defining moment which yielded impetus to the new dimension for Konkani movement. On the occasion, Konkani speaking people were gathered on a single platform postulating a sense of amity and brotherhood amongst them. This later manifested into establishing a World Konkani Centre at scenic Lobo Prabhu Nagar, Konkani Gaon, Shakti Nagar, Mangaluru, Karnataka, envisioned as a thriving epicenter. This is a place where Konkani people from any part of the world can legitimately be proud of to fulfill their aspirations in pursuit of rendering commendable services aimed at uplifting the society in the fields of Konkani art, education, folklore, theatre, literature and culture. The vision backed mission is to strengthen Konkani community while making it a strong motivating force in society.

With this backdrop, ’Vishwa Konkani Loka Kala Utsav’ popularly known as Shigmotsava is being organized on March 18 and 19 at Eknath Thakur Rangamantap, Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Mahim, Mumbai. The Loka Kala Utsav brings alive age old Konkani traditions, folk culture coupled with folk songs, folk dances with colourful costumes, Ovyo, Ummanyo, world famous ’puppet show’ by Uppinkudru Devanna Kogga Kamath family and skits for the people living in Mumbai metropolitan and suburbs as well as Navi Mumbai. A contingent of 100 folk artistes from North Kanara, Udupi and Mangaluru districts of Karnataka will be brought to Mumbai to showcase the traditional folk art and culture in its most attractive form with colorful costumes and skills.

The two day event  inaugurated at 3.30 pm on March 18 by the august hands of Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya, Governor of Nagaland. Union minister for railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu’s message will be relayed. The inaugural function will be presided over by minister for large and medium industries & infrastructure development, government of Karnataka R V Deshpande. The guests of honour will be Gautam Eknath Thakur, chairman, Saraswat Bank and K Ullas Kamath of Jyoti Laboratories Industry, NKGSB Bank chairman Kishor Kulkarni, managing director of Ryan International Institution Grace Pinto.

A Vishwa Konkani Kavi Ghoshti consisting of eminent poets from Karnataka, Goa and Kerala, who were honoured by Kendriya Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, for their poetry and literature is also being organized.

A G Kamath an eminent Konkani scriptwriter, director and actor recipient of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Award and Francis Fernandes Cascia an eminent actor in a Konkani play ’MhataroCharbela’ will be felicitated by dignitaries towards their lifelong contribution in terms of keeping alive the Konkani stage.

The Limca Book of Records fame Dr Chandrashekhar Shenoy and one of the oldest GSB Institutions of Mumbai GSB Sabha, Mumbai’s trustee Sudha Pai will be at the helm of affairs in organizing the event amongst others from the field of art, literature and culture said one of the organisers, Kamalaksha Saraf.