LEMONT, Ill.
More than 600 people gathered to usher in the New Year (Yugadhi) in the celebration hosted by Vidyaranya Kannada Kuta of Chicago (VKK) here at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago April 4. The release of the literary magazine “Sangama” and recognition of the 36 winners of VKK’s winter Olympiad took place amidst the cultural program of music, dance and theater.
After prayers, listening to the Hindu almanac (panchanga shravana) and Bhagavad-Gita recitations, followed by national and state anthems, VKK President Rama Rao kicked off the evening with his welcome speech. Dressed in traditional attire, children orated on Yugadhi as signifying life to be a mixed bag of experiences that should be accepted with zest and equanimity.
In addition to foot-tapping children dances, women draped in colorful sarees performed Kolaata, a rhythmical folk dance with sticks originating in Karnataka. Anusha Adkoli presented a soulful Bharata Natyam item. “Hadonu ba Kuniyonu ba,” a live music and dance show was coordinated and performed by 34 adult members of VKK.
Sangama is a celebrated semiyearly literary magazine that showcases the works of established and upcoming local authors, playwrights and poets was released with fanfare by the Sangama Committee led by Raman Aparanji. It was released by senior VKK member Narayanamma, Rao, committee members Aparna Deshpande, Annapur Shivakumar and Aparanji.
The evening’s highlight was the punchy socio-political comedy “Paschat-tapa” (Remorse) by Los Angeles drama troupe Rangadhwani of seven actors led by Vallisha Shastry that split the audience with laughter,
VKK’s winter Olympiad comprised indoor games in which men, women and children members competed. In all there were 36 different winners in games such as carom, shuttle badminton, chess, table tennis and traditional Indian board games such as parchisi (Pagade) and chowka baara.
The traditional dinner served included Obbattu, an authentic sweet dish served during Yugadhi that had been shipped all the way from India.
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