Yet another eventful year has rolled past and we have stepped into 2009. May the New Year bring all the Peace, Happiness, Good Health and Wealth for you and your family!

As we wake up to the dawn of the New Year, it is a good time to retrospect on the accomplishments of 2008.

Sangha\\\'s activities began in 2008 with various Gita Jayanti events - Gita Jayanthi 2008 Quiz Competitions (Jan & Feb 08), Ranga Maadhurya Cultural programme (Jan 08) etc, which culminated in Gita Havan (Feb 08). Kannada Sangha also led the International Gita Forum and Gita Chanting (Nov 08). Hosting of Gita Jayanti 2008 was a unique opportunity for Kannada Sangha to successfully showcase its talent pool, volunteerism and exceptional event management capabilities. All the participating organizations were deeply appreciative of the high level of participation and success achieved.

In the true spirit of integrating with other Associations and Communities of Singapore, Kannada Sangha was able to provide a wider variety of programmes to a larger audience by joining hands with various Indian Organizations and participating in many events coordinated by them. Rakshabandhan 2008 (with Hindu Centre), Hindustani Musical Concert (with Soorya, Singapore) and Bhaktimargam (with SIFAS), to name a few were very successful.

Kannada Sangha members celebrated musical/festive events like Purandara Namana 2008 (with the enthusiastic participation from various Indian cultural groups/organization s), Yugadi 2008 and Deepotsava (Deepawali & Rajyotsava Celebrations) in a traditional manner. For those with sports appetite – Sangha organized Image Cup 2008 (Singara Badminton tournament) and participated in Street Cricket (organized by Cairnhill CC GOPIO, Singapore). Sangha Cricket team was the proud winner of CAIRNHILL-GOPIO Street Cricket Champions Trophy – 2008. For those who are inclined to literary and cultural competitions, Sangha organized various competitions for children and adults – as a part of Yugadi celebrations and Singara 2008 Magazine.

Sangha also organized a couple of programmes independently – for e.g. a dose of learning through Arivu programme on memory management and a heavy dose of fun and entertainment via Hasya Bhava Lahari.

In addition Kannad Sangha presented "Singara Puraskaara" to recognize & honour the achievements of our members & their immediate family members in the field of Education, Sports and / or Extra Curricular Activities; Sangha introduced and presented Singara Ajiva Sadhana Puraskaara to two eminent Kannadigas who have made their mark in Singapore. Sangha also distributed 2008 new year calendars and Singara 2008 Magazines (an in house publication of Sangha) to all its members.

In all, there was at least one programme per month to look forward to in 2008. The audience had the opportunity to meet the eminent Kannadigas – Pt. Madhavagudi, Shri B. Pranesh, Shataavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh, Ms. Shakuntala Devi and many other dignitaries. It was a humble attempt by the Sangha to present something for everyone at an affordable price. All this has only been made possible by your presence and with the generous support from sponsors, volunteers and well wishers. We hope you and your family enjoyed these programmes & will continue to support us in future too.

We will continue our efforts to present to you equally exciting events in yr 2009. You may visit www.singara.org for Sangha's upcoming programmes.

vaMdanegaLoMdige

Kannada Sangha (Singapore)