Category: Amazing Feats

** The devadasi who wrote about dance

Venkatasundara Sani’s book is an extraordinary documentation of the Bengaluru-Kolar tradition of temple dance

The large pillared halls of the Ulsoor Someshwara temple, one of the oldest in Bengaluru, bustles with activity and hundreds of devotees. The Vijayanagara-style mandapa holds several stories — the most prominent of which is of a woman who shaped the Bengaluru temple paddhati of Bharatanatyam.

Though much of the city’s music and dance history has been lost in the sands of time, B.L. Rice’s Mysore Gazeteer is an important source of information. Published sometime after 1873, it mentions two temple dancers, Mariya Sani and her daughter Venkatasundara Sani, who were associated with the Ulsoor Someshwara temple.

Venkatasundara Sani was born into the hereditary dance community that performed in temples, and is believed to have lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

** Art Home: Sun-Bathed, Colour-Soaked Interiors

Experiencing art on the walls of a museum or gallery is one thing, but to witness it on the walls of homes is another, far rarer opportunity. This home reflects a character. A character of art and it is intriguing too if you make an attempt to read the mind of the artists who built this home.

For anyone who’s ever wanted to talk through a painting or move around seeing bold and bright colours, artistic designs, mural art and even a traditional ‘Thotti Mane’, a visit to ‘Rajathadri’ on R.T. Nagar 20th Main Road, 28th Cross Road near New Water Tank, is a must. And the proud owners are K. Sangeetha, an art teacher at G.B. Saragur Government High School in H.D. Kote taluk and her husband N. Rajesh, who runs  a Design & Event Management Studio in Kuvempunagar. The couple is blessed with two sons R. Sanshray, aged 14 and R. Samvatsar, aged 7.

A unique aspect of the house is the ‘Thotti Mane’ on the third floor. The floor has been structured around a sun-bathed courtyard and has an open-to-sky area used for multiple functional purposes besides offering scope for both natural light and ventilation to permeate the interiors.

Mysuru

** Kalaburagi artist for Jordan

Kalaburagi-based artist Mohammed Ayazuddin Patel will participate in a three-day International Art Festival titled Colours of the World organised in collaboration with Amman Greater Municipality and SMD Foundation at Ras Al Ain Art Gallery, Amman in Jordan.

The festival will be inaugurated under the patronage of Anwar Halim, Ambassador of India in Oman, on Saturday.

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** Mangaluru: 90 years’ eventful life of Jesuit scientist Dr Leo D’Souza celebrated

 St Aloysius College celebrated the 90 years’ eventful life of a world renowned Jesuit scientist, Fr Dr Leo D’Souza on Monday February 28.

Dr Leo D’Souza is the former principal, rector and director of Laboratory of Applied Biology.

Bishop of Shivamogga, Dr Francis Serrao raised the toast.

Dr Leo D’Souza was felicitated by Dr Narayana Bhat, president, St Aloysius College Alumni Association, J S Stephen Pinto, behalf of retired staff, D’Souza family (Dr Nischith D’Souza, Dr Nameeth D’Souza and bishop of Mangalore diocese, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha.

** Udupi girl Lerisa D’Souza bags 2nd prize in state level competition

Lerisa D’Souza, a student of MAHE who is studying Mass Communication & Media, made Udupi proud by winning second prize at the Karnataka state level in the National Youth Parliament Festival 2022, a speech competition which was held virtually from Bengaluru being organized from block level to the national level by NYKS, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, government of India.

Earlier in the last week, she was selected to represent Udupi district at the state level along with Kumari Husna, a student of Shri Buvanendra College, Karkala, both of who were selected from block level and then were winners at the district level first & second positions respectively.

** Mangaluru: Special postal cover on Doyen of Urology Late Prof H S Bhat released

Mangaluru postal division senior postal superintendent Harsha released a special postal cover to commemorate the Doyen of Urology, Late Prof H S Bhat on the occasion of decennial of Department of Urology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru on Tuesday, March 1 at TMA Pai Hall here, under the aegis of the Department of Posts, Mangaluru Division.

Speaking on the occasion, Harsha said, “Special cover is a format to recognise prominent personalities in any profession who have made enormous contributions to the society. Late H S Bhat had made such contributions in the field of Urology that I am delighted to be associated in the special cover part in his recognition. If there are such eminent personalities, proposals can be sent to us. If the proposals justify the contributions, then we will take a step towards creating special postal cover on them.”

** Mangaluru: City boy Raghavendra Poojary bags gold medal in India Skills competition

 Mechanical Engineering graduate Raghavendra Poojary won a golden medal in the national level technical skills competition held recently.

Raghavendra is selected for the international competition which will take place in October at Shanghai, China.

In the national level India Skills competition that was held in January for outstanding talent and concentration, 24 people from Karnataka bagged the medals. Raghavendra is one of them. Gold medal was awarded to his project on mechanical engineering CAD.

** 64-year-old Mangaluru sportswoman bringing laurels for country

A living testimony to this is 64-year-old Bhavani Jogi from Sakleshpur in Hassan district and currently a resident of Mangaluru.

Bhavani, a nurse, is an accomplished sportswoman, who recently won three gold, a silver and a bronze medal in the 35th Annual Masters (Open) Athletic Championship held in Sri Lanka. And wait. That’s not all. She’s so far won more than 200 medals in field and track events. But it wasn’t an easy journey to the top for Bhavani. Though she was interested in sports since her childhood, she couldn’t pursue it as a career because of restrictions at home. It was only after she got married that Bhavani started participating in sporting events.

** Solar-powered milking machines: Sunny side to dairy products from Chitradurga

The solar-powered milking machine was introduced by ‘SELCO’, a pioneer in spreading awareness about solar energy. The machine runs on a DC motor, making it financially viable for the farmer and comfortable for the animal. Sharing his experience of using this innovation, Devaraj – a dairy farmer from Hariyabbe village of Hiriyur taluk – says, “Solar-powered milking machines have helped us get a good milk yield. We have also been able to sail over erratic power supply, thanks to solar energy, while the cattle’s health is also maintained.”

** Walk of fame

The London Fashion Week usually sets the mood for the international fashion week marathon, which includes the Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. It is truly an exciting period for fashionistas.

So when city-based fashion model Irene Augustin walked the ramp at the  London Fashion Week 2022, which took place between Feb 18 and Feb 22, it was a dream come true.

In fact, she was the only Indian model to have been there.