Diverse cultures give Karnataka’s coastal region its identity: DK Shivkumar

Mangaluru: Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said that literature and art are integral to dharma and vital for preserving our culture.He was speaking during the launch of the music school, hall and dining hall constructed as part of the 105th birth anniversary of V Kanchana Venkasubrahmanyam, founder-guru of Kanchana Lakshminarayana Music Academy Trust, at Bajattur in Puttur, on Friday.
"Culture is the true wealth of a nation and must be strengthened. By consistently providing opportunities, we allow natural talent to flourish. To uphold dharma, we must continuously dedicate ourselves to supporting both literature and music," Shivakumar said.The coastal region, already a hub for education, literature, and traditions such as Bhootharadhane, Kambala, and Yakshagana, and with a strong banking presence, must be encouraged to achieve greater growth, he noted."Music is something vast and profound. When many streams come together, they form a river; when rivers join, they become the sea. In the same way, when many cultures come together, it gives identity to the coastal region," Shivakumar said.Lauding the efforts of the music academy, he said the institute had grown and produced several music experts, and that immense hard work lay behind this growth. Students of this institution earned recognition across various places, he said.The natural world demonstrates a principle of selfless service, he said, adding that the human body is intended not just for the individual, but to serve society. Central to this existence is faith. Remember your origins, for to forget the roots is to forfeit the fruits, the DCM added.Ramachandrapura Mutt pontiff Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Swami, blessing the occasion, said that music should bring calmness and warmth into everyone's lives. "Peace is not an external search; it resides within our own body and mind. Through song, sorrow and difficulties can be dissolved. Using one's voice is a path to both self-happiness and the joy of others. For those who do not sing, simply listening to music allows for complete immersion and self-forgetfulness. Similarly, surrendering to dance can help us forget pain. To overcome suffering, we should all incorporate some form of art into our lives," the pontiff said.Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade, Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and others were present.