Media Release
Abu Dhabi, Jan 3: Billawara Balaga Abu Dhabi, is gearing up to celebrate its 17th anniversary on April 1, 2011, in continuation of its efforts to bring all the Billawa brethren living in UAE under one roof at least once a year. Like the previous years, the Balaga, buoyed by the great support and patronage extended to it by sponsors and well- wishers, has decided to render educational scholarships for the needy children studying back home, during the month of August 2011.
Billawara Balaga Abu Dhabi, which is a household name in UAE and the neighbouring GCC countries, was formed to serve the Billawa community about 17 years back, and the Balaga has been sincerely meeting this objective since its inception.
Billawara Balaga Abu Dhabi was the first organisation to have been formed in the Gulf in 1994, to serve the interests of the community and to foster brotherhood.
During its 17 years in the service of Billawas, the organization did encounter a number of hurdles, but has succeeded in crossing each one of them, resulting in the creation of a perfect platform for the organization to serve and share a few good things with the society. This has been possible with the sincere, selfless, and collective efforts of Billawa Balaga’s most respected founder members like Sadanand Kuloor, Satish Anchan, Jagannath Anchan, Manohar Thonse, Kishore Kotian, Suresh Jathan, Anil Amman, Nanda Poojary, Prakash Bolar and Ramesh Suvarna. The Balaga’s founder members have not left any stone unturned in the quite unusual atmosphere of the emirates in identifying and bringing the Billawas together. The organization’s success has encouraged the establishment of a number of such organizations in UAE. These organizations have also been serving the people back home in the fields of education, medical assistance to the needy, and such other causes. Abu Dhabi Billawara Balaga takes pride in the fact that it was the first ever Sangha to have been formed in this part of the world.
The 17th Annual Day function will be in the form of a day full of various events and entertainment programmes from the artistes specifically being flown in for the purpose from Mangalore.
The following distinguished personalities will be the guests of honour at the Annual Day function of Billawara Balaga Abu Dhabi:
1. State award winner, Devdas Kapikad, who has served the Tulu theatre since the last over 25 years, exhibiting his enormous talent in organizing / directing, and acting in more than 8,000 plays.
2. Another state awardee, Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha, who also has been an econic figure since the last 54 years in the field of Bhagavathike, having lent his talent and voice to over 7,000 Yakshagana episodes, particularly for well-known epics like ‘Devi Mahatme’ and ‘Katil Kshetra Mahatme’.
Further, the audience at the event will also be entertained by the plays and Yakshagana performances being presented by talented local Billawas.
The committee members of the organization request the people to join them in making this event a tremendous success.
Present committee members of the Balaga:
Kishore Kotian (advisor), Manohar Thonse, Ramesh Suvarna, Pradeep Kirodian, Suresh Salian, Dayanand Bangera, Mahesh Sanil, Shankar Amin, Praveen Bolar, Sudhir Kunder, Kutty Poojary, Nitin Poojary, Neeladhar Poojary.
Billawara Balaga, Abu Dhabi, has requested all the newcomers (Billawas) in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to call any one of the following three committee members and provide their contact details, in order that any future events could be communicated to them.
Manohar Thonse (050) 5212079, Pradeep Kirodian (050) 4953432, Suresh Salian (050) 8192637.