By Violet Pereira, Team Mangalorean

Mangalore: Department of Kannada and culture - DK district and Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education jointly organized "Nritya Sangama" in Sandesha Kalabhavan here on August 18.

The programme was inaugurated by Bishop Dr Henry D'Souza of Bellary and president of Alvas Education Foundation Moodbidri Dr Mohan Alva by lighting the traditional lamp. 

Addressing the gathering Dr Alva said, "Our country has a very rich tradition of classical dance. Each form has its own speciality and and grace, along with a set pattern of costumes and make-up.  There are 8 types of classical  dances, they are Bharatanatyam , Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, and  Sattriya.  He said now a days children are not showing much interest in learning the classical dance.  While we educate our students we need to teach them the moral values.  We need to teach them to build minds and to know the true colours of classical dance.  Dance is inter-related to the education, along with education children need extra-curricular activities too, he said.

Bishop Henry D'Souza in his presidential address said that language, religion, culture is the wonderful gift to galvanize, motivate and transform people, and they should become the guardians to others and not segregated islands.  We have to promote rich and spiritual culture and language but not to make it exclusive and exploit in you in the context of culture which spreads intolerance in the society.

Sweekrith from Bangalore performed Kathak, Mary Bini performed Mohiniyattam and Vani Rajgopal performed Bharatanatyam on the occasion.