Tribute paid to Puneeth Rajkumar as Kannada forum holds Rajyotsava in London

KANNADIGAS living in the UK came together in London to celebrate the 66th Kannada Rajyotsava, the foundation day of Karnataka.

Hosted on Saturday (13) by the KannadigaruUK, an organisation of Kannada-speaking Indian diaspora in the UK, the event featured food from Karnataka and performances by local talents who entertained the audience with dance and songs.

Participants also paid tribute to the famous Kannada actor, Puneeth Rajkumar, whose untimely death in Bengaluru last month had left Karnataka in shock and disbelief. Several songs that marked the musical evening of the programme were dedicated to the late actor.

Noted singers Shweta Hiremath, Lakshmi Hoysal and Harshita presented Kannada melodies, including film and folk songs, with audience members taking to the dancefloor.

Namm Radio RJs Girish and Rashmi anchored the programme at Feltham in west London.

Karnataka’s popular folk art, Yakshagana, was also part of the Rajyotsava event as Yogindra Maravante and his daughter enacted the mythological play Bhasmasura Mohini.

Children performing at the Kannada Rajyotsava as tributes are paid to late actor Puneeth Rajkumar. (photo: KannadigaruUK)

Jeremy Pilmore-Bedford, the British deputy high commissioner in Bengaluru, who was the chief guest, noted the contribution of Kannadigas to the UK’s economy.

Pilmore-Bedford, who greeted the gathering in Kannada to applause, said he was privileged to have lived and worked in the south Indian state.

“I am absolutely delighted to be here in person on the foundation day of Karnataka. I can see the energy, vibrancy of the Kannadigaru,” he said and recalled having attended a virtual event last year.

The KannadigaruUK, which came into being after a few families in Reading decided to celebrate Rajyotsava in 2004, said it conducted online events during the lockdown period to help the diaspora stay connected.

Since its inception, the organisation has been holding Rajyotsava and Ugadi, a harvest festival widely celebrated in southern India, including Karnataka. It also organises yoga activities.

It said it mobilised funds for Covid victims in Karnataka.