The second Vishwa Kannada Festival, organized by the Karnataka Press Club Council in collaboration with Kannada Sanghas, was successfully concluded in a grand manner. Hat-trick hero Dr. Shivaraj Kumar, who was expected to attend the ceremony, could not participate due to illness but extended his wishes to Singapore Kannadigas through a video message.
The Karnataka Press Club Council had previously organized the Vishwa Kannada Festival in Dubai last year to showcase the richness of Kannada language and culture globally. This year, the second World Kannada Festival achieved similar success in Singapore.
During a press conference held to highlight this grand event, Karnataka Press Club Council President Dr. Shivkumar Nagar Navile, 2nd World Kannada Festival President Dr. C. Somashekhar, Cultural President and actress Rupika, along with Pratibha Patuvardhan, Sai Ramesh, Secretary Ranjitha, and Sinchana Dixit, were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shivkumar said, “This achievement feels like a great sacrifice. Despite facing numerous challenges, we managed to organize the event successfully without losing hope. From the morning, we hosted cultural programs, poetry recitals, folk singing, drama, award distributions, and tribute ceremonies.”
During the event, ISRO scientist Kiran Kumar was honored with the 2024 World Man Award and Meenaraj was crowned World Champion. Additionally, a special platform was provided for 10 talented individuals from the Siddi community, marking a significant step in promoting inclusivity. Dr. Shivkumar mentioned that over 120 people traveled to Singapore from India for the event.
Dr. C. Somashekhar noted that organizing such an event abroad involves immense responsibility. He said, “We worked tirelessly to fulfill Dr. Shivkumar’s vision for this program. One of our goals was to recognize and support underprivileged talents.” The festival saw participation from notable dignitaries, including Anand Guruji, folk singer Kikkeri Krishnamurthy, and Venkata Rathnaiah, President of the Singapore Kannada Sangha. Dr. Somashekhar described the event as both beautiful and meaningful.
The festival featured mesmerizing performances, including singing by Pasandavagane fame singer Mangli, an enthralling stage presence by show ambassador actor Vasishtha Simha, and a stunning dance performance by actress Haripriya, which became the highlights of the event.
The primary objective of the Vishwa Kannada Festival is to preserve and promote Kannada language and culture globally, while also paying tribute to accomplished Kannadigas.
