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Zee Kannada organises Seere Suggi Sambhrama contest
MUMBAI: Zee Kannada’s Paaru Seere Suggi Sambhrama Contest gave ten lucky winners the golden chance to savor the celebratory festival feast hosted by Akhilandeshwari and her Arsanakote family. Furthermore, all the winners were gifted sarees worth about Rs 25,000 fashioned by Akhilandeshwari on the show. The meet and greet session took place on Saturday, 26 October at Arsanakote family house.
The channel's most loved show Paaru and its characters have become the talk of every household in Karnataka. Recently, the show offered their ardent fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet their favourite characters Paaru (Mokshitha), Aditya (Sharath), Damini (Sitara) and Akhilandeshwari (Vinaya Prasad) at the Arsankote house on the eve of Deepawali by organizing Paaru Seere Suggi Sambhrama Contest.
Among approximately 7 lakh participants, the following lucky winners received a rare opportunity to spend an evening with their most-loved artists – Poornima from Dharwad, Anitha from Chitradurga, Kavya from Tumkur, Shilpa from Belgum, Mahadevamma from Hassan, Chaitra from Koppala, Chandrakala from Shivamogga and Rani from Mysore.
Paaru and Aditya welcomed the winners to the Arsanakote house with the traditional aarti tatte. The actors commenced the interactive session by breaking the ice and finding out where each of their fans hail from. Through this session of tete-a-tete, Paaru and Aditya were overwhelmed by the response they received from the winners. Showcasing their love towards the show, the winners along with Paaru sang the title song of the show in its full glory. Later, Akhilandeshwari and Damini also joined the session, wishing the winners a healthy and prosperous Deepawali.
Anitha from Chitradurga elucidated an anecdote about how her toddler, Kushal gets excited to watch the show and imitates every dialogue delivered by Aditya. Poornima from Dharwad explained the personal connect to the serial by correlating Paaru and her father’s character with the rapport she shares with her father. Akhilandeshwari pointed out that it is fascinating how even men in an everyday household are delighted to watch the show.
The fans hailing from various parts of Karnataka, some of them who travelled up to 600kms across the state, brought unique presents for their favourite characters. Renuka Devi from Koppala presented Akhilandeshwari with a blue cotton saree and the traditional baagina – a sacred gift given to married women by their mother. Overwhelmed by this gesture, Akhilandeshwari promised that she would fashion this saree in at least one of the episodes of Paaru. Meghana from Shivamogga gifted Paaru with an idol of Lord Ganesha and prayed that the show should not face any harm. Poornima hailing from Dharwad shared special sweets on the festive occasion.
The entertaining evening included several queries from the winners, and comical moments, when Akhilandeshwari teased Damini, giving the winners a feel of the show in real-life. The meet-and-greet saw many lively moments, when Akhilandeshwari sang several songs like Moodal Kungal Kere, Nim kade Sambarandre and other folk songs. All winners unanimously agreed that since the show timings match their supper hour, they never miss even a single episode of Paaru. They expressed their gratitude to the actors for the wonderful show, wishing the team would attain greater success in this journey.
Later that noon, the winners were invited to the festive feast of Baale eley oota, where they were served Deepawali special dishes by Akhilandeshwari, Paaru, Aditya and Daamini. The sumptuous Deepawali feast including holige with ghee served by Akhilandeshwari was appreciated by the Arsanakote’s lucky guests of the day. The winners were thrilled to receive the sarees from Akhilandeshwari, and therefore thanked the Arsanakote family for being a great
host and sparing time to meet them on the eve of Deepawali.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
