Moodabidre: The 20th version of Virasat festival activities had a flying start on January 5, Wednesday here at Shobhavana, with a musician Ajoy Chakraborthy of Calcutta, being carried in a decorated palanquin as an award-winner, through the streets of the town to the venue.

There were sound instruments like Kombu, Kahale, Tutoori, and Chande drums to create a pleasant atmosphere, followed by beautiful women in neat sarees holding Kalashas(water filled hand-vessels)as a mark of high respect to the Guest of Honour. Lights pervaded the venue at Sunset.

Dr. Mohan Alva in his Welcome address informed that this event ignited a cultural awareness and sense of exhilaration.

Receiving the Virasat(heritage) award, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborthy said he was overwhelmed at the magnificence of this cultural event in his 55 years of musical Contacts and 15 years of teaching music to students in Kolkata. He recited 3 vedic shlokas to bolster his faith.

Dr. N. Vinay Hegde as a chief guest, expressed his appreciation of Dr. Mohan Alva’s sensibilities towards Indian culture and his services to students at large in developing human personality.

Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, who presided on the occasion, felt that the aims of Virasat tallied with what Dharma had in mind for human beings, by adoring music and a value-based life. Positive feelings flow out of such a concourse of music and art, he observed.

There was a violin duet from Ganesh and Kumaresh of Chennai at night. Punjabi dances followed.

A.J. Shetty, Abhayachandra Jain, Captain Ganesh Karnik, Dasaiah (Canara Bank), Jayarama Bhat(Karnataka Bank), N. Balakrishna of Prakruti Developers were present, among others.