BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Lakeland, FL, August 25, 2025: The spirit of Karnataka travels wherever its people go—woven into their songs, spoken in their mother tongue, and alive in their celebrations. This summer that spirit will shine brilliantly as the 8th Navika World Kannada Summit will be held at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida, from August 29 to 31, 2025. Organized by the North America Vishwa Kannada Association (NAVIKA), the summit will gather thousands of Kannadigas from across the globe for three days of culture, conversation, and kinship.
NAVIKA President Shiva Kumar Bengaluru speaks of this milestone with humility and pride. “It is my utmost honor to serve the Kannada community,” he notes, pointing to the growth of Kannadigas in academics, business, media, and the arts. For him, the summit is not just an event but a bridge connecting Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage with the dynamism of the global diaspora. His newly formed committee, drawn from across the United States, reflects the unity of purpose that defines NAVIKA’s journey.
Atlanta’s community is also at the center of NAVIKA’s future leadership, with Dr. Anu Bhat, an accomplished physician and community leader, stepping into her role as President-elect of NAVIKA. For her, the summit is as much about embracing tradition as it is about preparing for the future. She emphasizes the need for digital literacy in Kannada, ensuring the language travels into the realms of AI, natural language processing, and new technologies. “Our mother tongue must live in the apps and platforms of tomorrow,” she notes, a sentiment that resonates with parents eager to pass Kannada forward to younger generations.
Amid this grandeur, the role of Nrupathunga Kannada Koota (NKK) of Atlanta shines brightly. Long a pillar of Kannada culture in the U.S., NKK brings its signature vibrancy to the summit through a comedy play directed by the acclaimed Beesu Suresha. Known for his wit and theatrical brilliance, Suresha’s production will remind audiences that laughter too is part of heritage.
Active organizer Bharat Tejasvi, also from Atlanta, echoes this sentiment. He sees the summit as both celebration and responsibility, a platform where Kannadigas abroad affirm their identity while opening doors of opportunity for youth. Together with Shiva Kumar and Anu Bhat, he reflects the collaborative spirit that has made Atlanta a cornerstone of NAVIKA’s initiatives.
Over the course of three days, Lakeland will transform into a cultural epicenter. Business forums, women’s and youth gatherings, literary conferences, poetry recitals, storytelling, Kannada short dramas, and even a cricket tournament will animate the convention halls. A grand cultural procession, inspired by the famous Dasara Jumbo Savari, will dazzle spectators with traditional costumes, folk artistry, and vibrant representations of Karnataka’s districts. For music lovers, a majestic evening of song and rhythm awaits, headlined by composer Mano Murthy and performer All OK, promising to leave the audience spellbound.
The summit promises a wide spectrum of forums and performances. Cultural showcases of dance, drama, and music will celebrate Karnataka’s artistic traditions. The Literary Forum will honor Kannada poetry and prose, while the Film Festival will highlight the cinema that has carried Kannada storytelling to the world. A Business Forum will open conversations on entrepreneurship, and Health & Wellness sessions will focus on happiness, integrated medicine, and mindful living. Youth and women will find their voices in dedicated forums, while a fashion show, sports events, alumni meets, and a souvenir release will add vibrancy to the celebrations.
Among the brightest highlights are the star attractions gracing Lakeland. From cinema, the summit welcomes icons such as Ramya (Divya Spandana), the beloved “Sandalwood Queen,” Rakshit Shetty, the acclaimed actor-filmmaker who was the first celebrity revealed, and Ramesh Aravind, the legend who has inspired generations as actor, director, and motivator. Veteran actor Dr. Srinath, fondly known as Pranaya Raja, will appear alongside rising stars Megha Shetty, a youth icon, and Vinay Rajkumar, carrying forward the glorious legacy of the Rajkumar family. The musical evenings promise to be equally enchanting with celebrated composer Mano Murthy, dynamic performer All OK, and singer Divya Ramachandra taking the stage.
To crown it all, the summit will also host dignitaries including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, along with revered Swamijis from prominent mutts in India and the U.S., who will offer their blessings. As NAVIKA President Shiva Kumar and Convener Harshit Gowda have urged, this gathering is envisioned as a true festival of global unity and Kannada pride—an invitation to Kannadigas everywhere to be part of history.
The 8th Navika World Kannada Summit is more than a convention. It is a homecoming for the global Kannadiga family, a reminder that wherever they may live, the pulse of Karnataka beats strong. In Lakeland, beneath the lights and music, that pulse will quicken into a celebration of language, culture, and identity—timeless, unbroken, and ever alive.
