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Dr. Hamsa Arun
The stage was set for the 16th VPA Convention. As soon as you walked into the
Westin Princeton, our lady volunteers dressed in traditional Karnataka attire were there
welcoming you. The stunning Ganesha floral decorations and the large ‘Halli’ diorama (all
made by the Decoration team) created the allure of our villages, so aptly reminding all of
us Vokkaligas of our rich heritage.

We woke up to the sounds of the Meravinge, which was filled with opulence and
grandeur. It was like witnessing a large canvas painting brought to life with strokes of
visual brilliance. The Meravanige started with the girls riding their stallions and leading the
way, followed by the men bearing the ‘Nandi kolus,’ and the then the ‘Veeragase Natana’
with swords. Then came the women volunteers in traditional festive saris holding ‘puja

thattes’ laden with flowers and fruits; and ‘kalashas’ balanced on their heads. The youths
bearing the beautiful Goddess Chamundeshwari on the ornate Mantapa (all created by
Mamatha Venkataswamy and her team) made the crowning finale.
What better to complement the Meravanige than the ‘Kamsaale Kunitha’ a traditional
folk dance, and then the joyful Dance Celebration of all our Festivals. The dancers were
beautiful and expressive with their portrayals of the fierce Mahishasura to the demure
Gopikas of Lord Krishna.

A fitting tribute to the founder of Bendakaaluru - Kempe Gowda, the pride of every
Vokkaliga was brought alive by the lavish musical, Nadaprabhu KempeGowda Vaibhava
starring Dr. Sanjay as the lead and our VPA volunteers as supporting cast.

The kids were not far behind with their portrayal of traditional Kannada folklore,
evoking fond memories. VPA’s Got Talent allowed both adults and children to showcase
their unique talents and was very entertaining.
If you thought it could not get any better, the NJ team whipped up yet another knockout
punch with their take on marriage traditions – ‘Mangalya Tantunanenum.’ Photos and
videos cannot do justice to the magic woven by these stars. Yes, STARS, I think they earned
the name, especially the teens!

But wait, the icing on the cake was the rhythmic blend of music by Pop Star Naveen
Sajju who took the evening soaring to superlative heights.

To summarize, VPA Convention 2019, ROARED its way loud and clear!

Mohan Kumar
Nadaprabhu KempeGowda Vaibhava was a mind-blowing show and performance!

Kiran Lakshman
The ‘halli’ diorama is inarguably an exquisite work of craftsmanship by the whole
Decoration Team! Thank you Hema for the opportunity to be a tiny part of this team of
artists!

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