Gili Gili 2001

Inauguration

Gili Gili 2001, The Second International Magicians Convention, the biggest magicians convention ever to be held in India was inaugurated on 23^rd November 2001.

At 6.45 p.m., Smt Shakunthala Shetty and her team started the evening with the traditional beating of the drums – “Chende” . 

The guests of the evening – Rajarshi Dr. D Veerendra Heggade (Dharmadhikari – Dharmasthala) and Sri Sri Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swamiji of the Paryaya Sri Pejawar Matha were escorted to the auditorium by the Shankar  family.

The programme began with the traditional invocation. The curtain opened revealing two men blowing  “Kombu” (horns). With the fading sound of the horns, there was the emergence of another man with the conch. The sound of the conch made way to Mrs. Yashaswini Deraje, Mrs. Maithili Tejaswi and Mrs. Sowjanyalakshmi who sang the prayer in Sanskrit.

The Convention Chairman – Prof. Shankar welcomed the delegates, guests, media personnel, sponsors, donors and all other people present. After the blessings by Pejawar Swamiji, Mrs. Sowmyalakshmi, the anchor of the show requested the Chief Guest for his inaugural address and inauguration.

Rajarshri Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade inaugurated the Gala Show by lighting the lamp and was escorted to his seat by the Shankars. The background was filled with light classical music. The three girls made their appearance again with the “song of light”. The stage was then occupied by 26 girls from the “Hejje Gejje” team dressed in the traditional costume of various states of India. They lit the stage with lamps and the whole auditorium was lit by miniature wick lamps. This seemed as if it was the festival of “Deepavali”.

The inauguration of the Gala Show was concluded with the Traditional Art Forms of South Kanara. The audience was thrilled with the glimpse of Yakshagana, Bhuta and Hulivesha.

This was followed by the Gala Magic performance by magicians from India and abroad.