Folk Art Meet and State Level Duff Competition conducted in city

11.05.10 Mangalore : The Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy, based in Mangalore, organised a state level Duff competition under a Folk Art meet at the Don Bosco Hall near Balmatta on Tuesday (May 11) in the Port city.

As per agenda of the Meet, the dignitaries and chief guests were welcomed and conducted to the dais in the morning. Manu Baligar, from Bangalore, who had earlier assisted the Beary community in establishing their own Academy in the city inaugurated the meet, after Chandrahas Rai, Akademi Registrar welcomed  the gathering. The guests were honoured as per tradition by offer of Attar (perfume), Paneer (water), Kharjur (dates), Crystal Sugar, Plantains and milk. An objective song was rendered by Hussain Katipalla and his band before inauguration. Manu Baligar played on the Duff (around drum in hand with bells) to indicate the Meet open. In his talk, Baligar called upon Beary community to retain its essential culture in the middle of sweeping waves of universal (especially western) culture. He was pleased with the way Beary Meet organizers honoured the guests with Perfume, Milk and other traditional items earlier. He cautioned Beary brothers not to throw away what they had, in lure of Western culture. He was honoured by the Academy by offering a shawl, and memento, besides fruits.

A book “Nilavu” written by Beary author, H. Katiapalla was released on the occasion by M.B. Abdul Rehman, President of the Beary Academy, who had presided over the Meet too. He called for improvement in the art of playing Duff as an instrument. He acknowledged the services of Manu Baligar towards the formation of Beary Academy in the state.

N.H. Adam Faizee of Nandavara Mosque, and Bannanje Babu Amin , Folk arts scholar, spoke suitably on the occasion. Hameed Golthamajalu conducted the proceedings. Aziz Baikampady, Akademi member, offered the vote of thanks.

Later a Duff competition at the state level was conducted at the venue.