A traditional Indian New Year celebration brought hundreds of UK-based Kannadigas together last weekend as Kannada Balaga UK marked Ugadi 2025 with a day-long cultural festival.
The charity, registered in the UK since 1983, held its annual Ugadi celebration last Saturday (3) at Sheffield's historic Cutlers Hall.
Ugadi, also known as Yugadi in some regions, is the New Year festival celebrated by the people of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka states in southern India.
The Yorkshire chapter of the organisation hosted the event, which drew around 400 attendees dressed in traditional attire.
The celebration began with a Ganesha Stotra (prayer) and ceremonial lighting of candles. Chief guests included actress Sudharani, singer Ajay Warrier and director Sudesh Rao, who each delivered brief speeches during the opening ceremony.
"Throughout the day, local community members performed a variety of cultural programmes including dances and songs in the Kannada language. Attendees enjoyed a South Indian lunch featuring obbattu, a traditional sweet dish," said Dr Praveen Thyarappa, Sheffield, a member of the executive committee of the charity.
Anivaasi, the literary wing of Kannada Balaga, organised a symposium on the contributions of Kannada philosophers, writers and social reformers from the 12th to 19th centuries.
The evening programme featured two main highlights: the premiere screening of a short thriller film titled Ghost, D Devva and a two-hour musical concert by Ajay Warrier. The film captivated the audience while sparking discussions about the nature of mental perception.
"The full-day event concluded with a dance-drama performed by the YSKB team, rounding off a celebration that showcased both the cultural heritage and creative talents of the UK's Kannada community," Dr Thyarappa added.
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