Media Release

North Carolina, Apr 29: On Saturday, April 15 a substantial number of Tuluvas from the Raleigh Durham sector of North Carolina, USA, celebrated their customs, traditions and heritage at the Triangle Tuluvere Chavadi ‘Gouji’ event held at the Unitarian Unversalist Fellowship Hall in Raleigh North Carolina.

Tuluvas exceeding 200 in number got together for this event. The committee folks put together a two-hour programme elucidating the essence of Tulunadu, followed by a sumptuous feast.

There was a wide array of programmes at this Tuluva cultural conjunction. The event commenced with the lighting of the lamps by all the respected elderly members of the community.

Ganesha Stuthi was done by Sanvi Asaigoli. Welcome speech was given by Tuluvere Chavadi president Pradeep Shetty. This was followed by jokulna nalike- Tulu fusion dance - duetted by Nesara and Niyathi Makkithaya.

Koodu Pada-‘ Enkulna Tulunadu’ group song was sung by Suresh Shetty, Soumya Shetty and Priyanka Shetty. Kolalu vaadana/ carnatic music flute recital by Samrat Doddamani, Neeshma Shetty and Adhya Chakrapani followed.

Pada- Tulu song ‘Honda Bike’ was sung by Reyansh Hegde. Kinni Chilipili Nalike, kids dance by Angad Mehendale, Nesara Makkithaya, Reyansh Hegde, Sanav Sachin, Rithvi Rao, Atharv Bermal, Shanvik Pakkala, Tanai Som and Inika Acharya.

Pada/ Song - Ullasada Hoomale was sung by Niyathi Makkithaya. Jokulna Nalike - Tulunadu folk dance was presented by Siyara Shetty, Shreshta Sachin, Inika Agsebagil and Anushka Shetty. 

Koodu pada / Folk song ‘Raavo Ra Korangu ‘ was presented by Rashmi Kadikar, Priyanka Shetty, Nandini Murthy, Vidya Rao, Anitha Acharya, Savitha Kunjur, Babitha Annaji, Savita Upadhya, Asha Satish, Soumya Shetty, and Nirmala Rita D’Sa.

Jokulna Nalike- Atala Vittala Shoora was presented by Arnav Shetty, Neeshma Shetty, Neil Shetty, Nathan D’Souza, Claire D’Souza, Mihika Rao, Shiven Shetty and Sahasi Udupa.

The eminent compere’/ emcee team- Suresh Shetty, Vineet Bangera, Suhan Asaigoli, Ranjan Rao and Namitha Jathan conducted the event.

An exceptionally organized and resplendent celebration, well effectuated by the EC team headed by Pradeep Shetty, and his team comprising of Shraddha Krishnamurthy, Trisha Shetty, Chakrapani Krishnamurthy, Sharath Shetty, Sigen Agsebagil, Mithun Rai, and Vineet Bangera with Sharath Shetty being the proposer of the vote of thanks.

Mega sponsors for this event were families of -

Ravi and Savitha Upadhya
Pradeep and Amitha Shetty
Prashanth and Namitha Jathan
Umesh and Ranjani Asaigoli
Annaji and Babitha Pervaje
Umesh and Sapna Kedla
Dr Sadanand and Vidya Hegde
Gold sponsors and dinner catered by Persis Indian Grill Cary, NC

Many thanks to Janaki Shetty and Ranjani Asaigoli for assistance with tulu inscriptions and dialect, photography by Nagaraj and videography by Yogi.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQS_hgkic32veRbBUt6EHT5CMWSeh4r7G