Ethnic Sports, a part of Bunts’ 30th year of Togetherness
Muscat: The Bunts Community members in Oman have been active and vibrant socially and culturally, creating a lot of awareness of values among their members in the last 30 years. This Community has created a bond of unity within with regular and annual gatherings. Recently, Bunts of Oman organized a spectacular Ethnic sports and Games for the Community creating ‘KesaruGadde”, a slushy and muddy paddy field as a facility to play all those sports and games in a traditional manner. They call it Grameena Kreeda Koota – A village sports assembly.
This was the second time the Bunts have arranged such a lovely facility for their members. Besides the paddy field, they also built a traditional home, “BarkhaGuthu” with a purpose of bringing awareness of traditional and age-old Ethnicity and its importance in modern life. This Agriculturist community in the pursuit of keeping their younger generation well informed of their family values, have gone into creating such a wonderful arrangement for their community members.
As a part of the on-going celebration of 30 years of togetherness, The Buntara Mahotsava Committee also have planned a day-long cultural extravaganza’ within. It is indeed a fun-filled traditional event.
Divakar Shetty, Managing Director of Multitech LLC was the Architect of the plan and construction of this concept, in bringing much-appreciated festival per se. The panorama depicting typical Bunts rural countryside was complete with slush and muddy paddy field, swimming pond, traditional water well with facility to draw water, coconut grooves, paaka shale, bhojana shale, village huts and shops, ethnic food stalls, a stage for performance; all neatly covered with a roof of thatched coconut leaves, were the highlight of the arrangements. The lovely arch at the venue welcomed one and all, as it was decked with colourful patake or call it tiny flags. Mango leaves were used to create the traditional decor at the dining hall. Cluster of tender coconuts and Pingara, the Arec-nut flowers and Areca fruits together with fresh flower garlands had a sentimental value for everyone who attended the event. Setting up of a Tulasibrindavan was yet another creative and traditional matter of appreciation. This was adorned with Rangoli design and decor by Saroja S Shetty, Mallika Shetty, Sudheera Shetty, Shyna Shetty, Vanishree Shetty, and Surekha Rai, the committee ladies who were committed to the task.
There were a variety of eatables and juices available free at the village shops, of Watermelon, Sugarcane, tender coconut, Charmuri, Kharjura, Kurlumithai, Banana, Omlet, Ice-cream, Tea-Coffee etc. for everyone to enjoy. These facilities have truly created an atmosphere of a carnival with a wonderful arrangement. This was impeccably coordinated and executed by the Committee Convener Shashidhar Shetty and his force of Volunteers.
The committee members along with a number of volunteers contributed to the proceedings of the event. The event started with traditional mangalorean breakfast.
The inaugural function commenced at 8:00 am with an invocation prayer by the organizing committee. Committee member welcomed the guests and members.
The entire day was filled with fun and frolic, and this was the unique of its kind event abroad. Convenor of the event, Shashidhar Shetty Mallar symbolically inaugurated the event by breaking the coconut. Kalladi Shanker T Shetty compered the programme. Sudhin Shetty provided excellent sound and DJ support.
Shashidhar Shetty Mallar gave a welcome address and highlighted the importance of traditional sports and games meet. Back home in India, this Ethnic sports and games used to be a picture of Bunts culture and heritage, he stressed in his address.
Kesaru Gadde Sports
Sathyaprasad Rai and Ganesh V Shetty, conducted various sports events. In the muddy field, running race, hand ball, tug of war, pot breaking competition, gold treasure hunt and many other competitions were organized.
Kambla buffalo race
The entire audience appeared thrilled, while the water-mixed mud sprinkled and splashed across the field by the buffaloes during kambala. This too was an amazing part of the event, very rare to see any where in gulf.
Four pairs of Buffaloes participated in the Kambula race. Kaup Mallar brothers Buffaloes represented by Nagesh shetty Kinnigoly, STS Sohar Guthu represented by Ashok Shetty Suratkal, Gobra and Ruwi Guthu represented by Surendra shetty and Jayaraj Shetty. Oman Tuluver Guthu was represented by Ramanand shetty team. Kambula was conducted by Mulki Arasuseeme Chandrahas shetty and Nagesh shetty Kinnigoly.
Traditional sumptuous Bunt cuisine was prepared at site under the direction of Shashidhar Shetty Mallar and team for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch included Semige, Korisukka, Korirotti, Moode, Bangude fry, Kudutasaar, Basalekajipu, Egg masala, etc among other variety of items which was served on plantain leaves enhancing the flavour of the event.
Games were continued after the lunch, conducted by Saroja S Shetty Mallika S Shetty,Sudheera D Shetty, Vanishree N Shetty, Shyna G Shetty, Surekha Rai. Events like Fancy dress contest, Chenne mane, weaving the coconut leaf (madal),lifting the shakthikall, etc were the centers of attraction.
While the ladies were busy organizing the games, korikatta (cock fight) was held and this made everyone nostalgic as this has never happened before in gulf. It was a fight without torturing the cocks which was won by Ashok Shetty Sohar and Ramanand shetty.
In the evening variety of traditional costume competition was held.
Finale: Balindra puja, Tulasi Puja, Nalike Bajane and DaivaNema (Kola)
In the background of beautiful sunset, Balindra Pooja (invocating King Balindra) was symbolically performed bringing back cherished memories of childhood and bygone era of farming household. Eventually Tulasi Pooja was performed to aesthetically decorated Tulasi Brindavana, followed by mesmerizing NalikeBhajans. An enthralling Kangil dance was performed by Sudhin Shetty and team.
The programme culminated in a thrillingNudi reciting contest and DaivaNema by Nagesh Shetty Kinnigoly and team. It was a rare opportunity for the community members to witness such a wonderful and event. The programme concluded with traditional dinner at 8 pm which Included Ganji, Balyarchatni, Pundi, Manjaleraygatti, KoriGassi, Kudutasaar, Yettichatni, etc.
The Guest of Honour for the Event was Sudhir Shetty, Perla, COO, Global Operations, UAE Exchange / Oman UAE Exchange, who spoke in length of the need for such events in society to keep alive the traditional values.
Shashidhar Shetty Mallar proposed the vote of thanks to the sponsors and patrons for their valuable support. He acknowledged all those who extended support to make the event a grand success.
Bunts Gathering Pearl Jubilee celebrations Committee
Also Bunts of Oman have organised a grand, eventful sports fiesta “Bunts Trophy” cricket and throw ball tournament on 13 Oct 2017 at Sidab grounds .which was thoroughly enjoyed by the members and well participated by a large number of bunt families residing in Oman. The tournament was inaugurated by Kalladi Shankar T Shetty, Diwakar K Shetty and Ganesh V shetty. Tournament was conducted under the able direction of Sathyaprasad Rai & Shashidhar Shetty Mallar.
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, Vanishree N Shetty and Nagesh Shetty, Shyna G Shetty and Ganesh V Shetty, Surekha S Rai and Sathyaprasad Rai.
Ethnic Spots meet in the Baraka Guthu truly lived up to expectations. Oman BuntaraMahotsava Celebrations will on November 17 at the same venue followed by Yaksha Vaibhava by patla Satish Shetty team at Al Felaj Hotel, Ruwi Muscat, on 18 November at 6.00 PM which is a free event by invitation open for all Yakshagana enthusiasts.
Kudos to the organizing committee for recreating a Tulu Naada village in Muscat. The pictures speak for itself. It must have been a herculean task, but nevertheless worth the effort. So beautiful sight to the eyes. I felt like it was a film set. I have many Bunts friends in Muscat and I am so happy that we have a very cordial relationship with them and it feels like a family.
Congratulations to Bunts community on their celebration of Pearl Anniversary. Wishing and praying for your unity and feeling of oneness to continue for many many years to come. Keep up the good work.
I take this opportunity to wishing you all the very best for the upcoming Yakshagana Vaibhava on 17th and 18th of this month. I am sure under Shri Satish Shetty Patla’s bhagavatige it will turnout to be a memorable event for a long time to remember.