The spirit of Kannada filled the air as hundreds of schoolchildren in colourful dress danced to many Kannada theme songs at the Nehru Maidan during the Rajyotsava.
The dance-drama by children of St. Ann’s High School to the song ‘Kannada Naadina Veera Ramaniya…’ from legendary director the late Puttanna Kanagal’s superhit movie Naagarahavu was the cynosure of all eyes. The song narrates sacrifice of a woman, who was the wife of a guard at a chieftain’s port at Chitradurga, called Onake Obavva in protecting the chieftain’s port.
This song was so deep rooted in the hearts, that two women at the maidan were seen wiping their tears after the song ended with the killing of Obavva by enemy.
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Students of Milagres High School chose to dance to ‘jogada siri belakinalli…nityotsava…,’ the evergreen Kannada ‘bhavageethe’ by poet Nisar Ahmed.
Children of Narayana Guru High School danced to another popular song ‘Huttidare Kannada Naadalli Huttabeku…’ sung by thespian Raj Kumar in the movie ‘Aakasmika’. In all, students from 10 schools danced to 10 different songs.
Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada and Minister of Forest, Environment and Ecology B. Ramanath Rai hoisted the National Flag.
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Earlier a procession was taken out from Ambedkar Circle to the maidan. ‘Gaja mela’, ‘Kangeelu Nritya’, ‘Dollu Kunita’ and ‘Navilu Kunita’ were part of the procession. There were some tableaux.
Roll of Honour
In all, eight children were felicitated on the occasion. Each of them was given away a cash of Rs. 10,000 and a certificate with memento.
The students were Nihal Noojibail, class 6, and Anusha K., class 9, both from Indraprastha Vidyalaya, Uppinangady; Amith V. Kamath and Maneesh Shenoy, both class 8, Canara High School, Dongarakery; Haritha M.B., class 9, Sudana School, Puttur; Swathi K.M., class 7, Lady Hill English Medium School, Mangalore; Nireeksha U.K., Besant English Medium School; and Swathi Bhat, class 9, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Yekkur.
Cultural programmes were conducted at Town Hall in the evening.