Mysore/Mysuru: As part of World Music Day celebrations, K.M. Praveen Kumar Charitable Trust, in association with Mysuru Artistes Association, had organised Sangeetha Kala Sarathi Award presentation ceremony and lecture programme at Dasara Exhibition Grounds premises on Monday.

Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) Chairman Hemanth Kumar Gowda, who presided over the programme, inaugurated the event and addressed the gathering. 

“Several artistes have been severely hit by this lockdown. Due to this pandemic, art exhibitions could not be organised in city. Hence, we are planning to organise year-long art exhibition at Dasara Exhibition Grounds premises. A forum comprising of various artistes will be set up. We will speak with All India Radio and Department of Kannada and Culture regarding this matter,” he said. 

Speaking on the occasion, Department of Kannada and Culture Asst. Director H. Chennappa said, “There are over 4,500 artistes in Mysuru. The Department is providing Rs. 3,000 as financial assistance to each of those artistes who are having tough time due to this pandemic and lockdown. We have already started distributing grocery kits to these artistes.”

Later, Sangeetha Kala Sarathi Award was presented to Vid. Raghavendra Prasad (percussion instrument), Vidu. Shobha Raghavendra (classical music/ Gamaka), Vid. Raghunath (percussion instrument), Vid. Balakrishna (keyboard), Vid. Harish Pandava (Saxophone), Vid. Shanmuga (classical music/keyboard), Varalakshmi (vocalist) and Ruchita Rajesh (Sugama Sangeetha). 

Sri Ilai Alwar Swamiji of Vangipuram Nambi Mutt, Melukote, Social worker Dr. K. Raghuram Vajpayee, BJP leader Yashaswi Somshekhar, senior artiste Amba Prasad, Bannur Parisara Jagruthi Vedike President Mahendra Singh Kalappa, Jeevadhara Girish, KMPK Trust President Vikram Iyengar and others were present during the occasion.