Pontiffs, film stars kick off AKKA World Kannada Conference

The 9th AKKA 2016 World Kannada Conference is going to be held for three days from September 2 to 4 at the Atlantic City Convention Centre, New Jersey. 

 

"From culture towards development" is the slogan of the 9th America Kannada Kutagala Aagara (AKKA) World Kannada Conference, which is expected to be attended by around six thousand guests and delegates. 

 

The guest list includes film stars, artists, musicians, dancers, entrepreneurs, pontiffs, spiritual gurus and several Indian legislators. 

 

The conference even has a high glamour quotient, with a whole galaxy of Sandalwood stars scheduled to attend the last day, dubbed the 'Ambi Nights' programme. 

 

A large variety of programs have been planned, with topics ranging from disease to divinity. 

 

Several folk dance teams from Karnataka are participating in the conference, which will begin with a procession in Atlantic city on the first day. 
Also, for the first time, a film festival has been organised, with several award-winning Kannada films expected to be screened.

 

Here is a list of competitions and workshops:

• Drama competition
• Workshop to make Ganesh Idol in clay
• Gall tournament
• Gurukula Dance trophy 
• Dance competition
• Heritage quiz 
• Drawing competition
• Shloka recitation competition 
• Skit competition on the theme "Kannada Mathaadi" (Speak Kannada)
• Impromptu speech
• Mr. And Ms. AKKA competition
• Sriman and Srimati AKKA competition

The organisers have opened an information centre for dignitaries arriving from India, to assist them in their sightseeing as Atlantic City is a huge tourist hub. 

 

The organisers are also planning to celebrate the Gauri and Ganesha Festival during the conference.

 

Kannada and culture minister Umashree is scheduled to inaugurate the conference as chief minister Siddaramaiah has decided to skip it.

 

Incidentally, H Anjaneya, the social welfare minister was scheduled to attend, but he later cancelled his visit in protest after hiccups caused more than 90 Dalit artists to not receive a visa in time. 

 

The department of Social Welfare had decided to send 90 Dalit artists from its own funds. A grant of ₹3.5 crore, under a special scheme, was sanctioned for this purpose. But a miscommunication between the department of social welfare and the department of Kannada & culture, the artists could not obtain visas on time.

 

Both the departments have agreed not cause such delays in the future. Another World Kannada Conference is going to be held in Singapore in the month of October. The social welfare department is now planning to send those 90 Dalit artists to Singapore.