Competition to revive traditional Goodudeepa

Mangaluru: The annual Namma Kudla Goodudeepa Competition will be held at Gokarnanatheshwara Temple on Oct 30.
Addressing the reporters on Wednesday, Harish B Karkera, one of the organisers, said that the event aimed to revive the traditional Goodudeepas, which are lit in Tulunadu homes during Deepavali but are fading from public consciousness. Namma Kudla channel emphasises its creation and initiates a competition known as the Namma Kudla Goodudeepa Competition. From its first year, the competition successfully fostered a competitive spirit among participants by awarding a gold medal.
The competition is open to all ages and will be held in three categories: traditional, modern and replica. In each category, the first and second-place winners will receive a gold medal, while three third-place winners will receive a silver medal and 50 consolation prizes.
Along with the Goodudeepa competition, achievers serving society in Tulunadu will be recognised with the Namma Tuluver Award and achievers in various fields will receive the Namma Kudla Award. Actor Suman Talwar, a native of Dakshina Kannada, will be honoured with the Namma Kudla Award this year. The Namma Tuluver Award will be conferred upon Sarvottam Shetty Abu Dhabi, a prominent organiser who has established and nurtured various organisations in Abu Dhabi.
The BP Karkera Seva Award, a prestigious recognition for organisations in Tulunadu that have rendered exceptional service, will be presented to the Bangalore Billava Association this year. Shashilekha Balakrishna will receive the Lakshmi Karkera Seva Award for her selfless contributions to education. Since her retirement, Balakrishna has provided free hostel facilities to eight students annually and supports their education through anonymous donations, earning her the title of a hidden benefactor.
The Bala Pratibha Puraskar will be bestowed upon Trishna Naveen, a four-year-old prodigy from Surathkal. Trishna, who earned the title Little Sharada at a tender age, captivated thousands of people by portraying the image of Sharada for ten continuous hours during the recent Mangaluru Dasara procession.