Mangaluru: A vibrant confluence of India’s diverse cultural traditions marked ‘Alva’s Traditional Day-2026′ celebrations held at Vidyagiri campus of Alva’s Education Foundation on Saturday.The event witnessed the presence of Kannada actor Shivarajkumar and his wife Geetha, who lauded the institution for showcasing a miniature version of India’s cultural richness.Inaugurating the programme, the actor appreciated the spirit of inclusiveness displayed by the students. “To achieve anything in life, one must have a generous heart. I see that quality here. Karnataka’s culture lies in embracing everyone,” he said, urging students to remain united and grow together.Recalling his earlier visit to Moodubidire during the shooting of the film ‘Smile’, he expressed gratitude for the continued affection he has received over four decades. “I feel blessed to receive the same love even today,” he said.The actor added a lively touch to the celebrations by singing and dancing to popular Kannada songs, including numbers from his debut film ‘Anand’ and songs associated with his late brother Puneeth Rajkumar, drawing enthusiastic response from the students.Earlier, he was escorted to the venue through a colorful cultural procession representing various regions of India. Addressing the gathering, Geetha described the experience as “a blessing to witness multiple cultures on a single platform” and praised the students for their enthusiasm.Alva’s Education Foundation chairman M Mohan Alva presided.The programme also featured the presentation of a portrait created by disabled student Kaushik to the chief guests. Film personalities including Rahul Amin, Shailashree Mulki, Disha Shetty, and Sahil Rai were present, along with former minister Abhayachandra Jain and management trustee Vivek Alva.Cultural showcaseStudents representing Maharashtra, Gujarat, Northeastern India, Kerala, Karnataka, coastal Karnataka and other parts of India presented traditional art forms. The campus was adorned with cultural exhibits, while students dressed in traditional attire added to the visual appeal.Regional cuisinesThe event also featured a food festival offering regional delicacies from across India. Dishes such as Kerala-style kappa and fish curry, Malabar biryani, idiyappam, coastal Karnataka’s kori rotti and fish preparations, Manipur’s singju, momos, and popular items like chole bhature, pani puri, and Hyderabadi biryani were served.
