Grand Finale of Devji–BKS GCC Kalolsavam Concludes with Cultural Grandeur
The grand finale of the Devji–BKS GCC Kalolsavam, organized by the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS), was held on the night of May 31, 2025, in Manama. The event marked the culmination of one of the largest cultural festivals for children in Asia and a prestigious platform for Indian expatriate youth.
Shri Rajeev Kumar Mishra (CdA), Counsellor at the Embassy of India in Bahrain, served as the Chief Guest. Other distinguished guests included Mr. M.R. Abhilash, Supreme Court Advocate; Mrs. Madhuri Prakash, Executive Director of Quality Education International School; and senior representatives from the Devji Group. The event was organized under the leadership of Mr. Radhakrishna Pillai, President of BKS, and Mr. Varghese Karakkal, General Secretary.
Modeled after the Kerala State School Youth Festival, the Kalolsavam spanned over one and a half months and brought together exceptional young talent from across the GCC. The competition was conducted across five group categories and became a vibrant showcase of cultural excellence and youthful creativity.
Top Honors Awarded
The festival recognized several outstanding participants:
Kalathilakam (Best Female Artist): Isha Aashiq
Kalaprathibha (Best Male Artist): Shaurya Sreejith
Bala Thilakam (Young Talent of the Year): Sahana Mohanraj
Category-Specific Title Winners:
Neha Jagadheesh – Kala Ratna (Overall Arts Excellence)
Ayan Sujith – Natya Ratna (Dance)
Arjun Raj – Sangeetha Ratna (Music)
Priyamvada N.S. – Sahitya Ratna (Literature)
Neha Jagadheesh received special commendation for her wide-ranging artistic accomplishments, which included:
1st Prize: Painting, Pencil Drawing
2nd Prize: Vegetable Carving, Poster Design
Grade A: Cartoon Drawing, English Essay Writing, English Poem Writing, Clay Modeling, Short Story Writing (English), English Poem Recitation
3rd Prize: Group Tableau – Kayal
Widespread Participation and Expert Judging
This year’s Kalolsavam saw participation from more than 1,200 students, including 700 contestants in 135 individual events and 79 teams in 14 group competitions. A distinguished panel of 125 judges, including cultural experts from Kerala, evaluated the performances with professionalism and precision.
The event was successfully managed by the organizing committee, led by Convenor Bitto Palamattam and Joint Convenors Soni K.C. and Renu Unnikrishnan, under the guidance of the BKS leadership.
