AKKA grabs golden opportunity

Sowmya Aji Mehu / TNN / Aug 6, 2006, 23:30 IST

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America Kannada Kootagala Aagara will mark the 50th year of Karnataka's unificiation on September 1, two months ahead of the state's own celebrations!

BANGALORE: The US will celebrate Suvarna Karnataka first: the apex Kannada body there, America Kannada Kootagala Aagara (AKKA), will mark the 50th year of Karnataka's unificiation on September 1, two months ahead of the state's own celebrations!
The three-day 4th AKKA world Kannada conference in Washington DC will have Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Chandrashekar Patil (Champa), poet Chennaveera Kanavi and Hampi university vicechancellor Vivek Rai among others to speak about the glorious history of Karnataka's unification.
This will be soon after the inaugural by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. The governor of Maryland will be present to mark the special occasion. "This will be the first time the US political class participates in the AKKA world Kannada conference.
We are expecting even US vice-president Dick Cheney to drop in," Karnataka co-ordinator and AKKA office-bearer M Krishnamurthy told The Times of India.

The state of Maryland has for the first time come forward to be a platinum sponsor — it has given $ 75,000 towards the event that is expected to cost up to a cool $ 1 million.
Keeping with the event's catchline — bringing Kannadigas together — about 5,000 Kannadigas from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and Singapore will come together to celebrate Suvarna Karnataka.
Other than the usual business forum for investment opportunities in India and the women's forum, the event will have two 'young' attractions: AKKA Idol and Miss AKKA.

Similar to the American Idol and Indian Idol competitions, Kannadiga children in the US have been asked to send in CDs of songs sung by them. T h e best will be shortlisted and asked to perform at the event.
None less than top film music director Gurukiran, who is flying out for the event, will judge AKKA Idol of the year! The fashion show — Miss AKKA — will identify the most beautiful Kannadiga girl in the US, at the event where several matrimonial matches have been made in the past!
On the spiritual side, Sri Sri Ravishankar of the Art of Living Foundation, Dharmasthala's Veerendra Heggade and Mata Amritanandamayi will discourse to the gathering.
Gurukiran will hold a film nite, Keremane Shambu Hegde's troupe will perform Yakshagana, an Ummathaata troupe will perform the famed Kodava dance, and a Shikaripura troupe the thunderous Dollu Kunita.
While the state is sending 35 artistes at its expense, several others are going on their own to be part of the extravaganza.

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