About Us

 

Making our community a Better Place For All of Us

Become A Volunteer

Donate for a Cause

Our Story

Melbourne Kannada Sangha (MKS) was started on 10 April 1986 by group of like minded volunteers to conduct cultural programs by inviting overseas artists and festivals such as Karnataka Rajyotsava, Dasara and Ugadi. Later on MKS was registered as non-profit organisation in June 2005 with a elected official committee to manage the activities of Sangha.

Since then MKS has grown exponential and facilitated mega events inviting Indian celebrities, cultural programs, teaching Kannada classes and library service every first and third Sunday of the month. MKS proudly produces monthly magazine called “MELNUDI” which is very popular among our members.
Since its inception of non-profit organisation, MKS has established Kannada Bhavana, the only 2nd one in the world outside of India and the 1st one ever to be established with the support of Volunteers only. 

This has helped MKS to uplift its presence and create Kannada Icon in Australia. Our goal to provide a unique business model involving local patrons, life members of MKS to build and manage Kannada Bhavana by raising local and overseas shares.
Melbourne has experienced steady population growth in the 15 years to 2016. The stable growth rate is expected to continue in the next 15 years, with Indian population forecasted to increase to 300,000 by 2031. Hence it is right time that MKS dream can be realised in coming years.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER 2024

Dear Members,

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you all enjoyed a safe and   happy holiday season and I wish each of you the very best of everything in 2024. Last year ended with some delightful events such as celebration of Ugadi, Independence Day & Kannada Rajyostava with featuring Golden Star Ganesh Talkies showcased in Melbourne with a full house of nearly 1200 audiences.

My thanks goes to everyone involved in making the celebrations of beautiful events including great support from our sponsors. The event marked a special hosting of Golden Star Ganesh.  He shared fantastic reflection of many exciting, inspiriting and enjoyable experience from which all the members benefitted.

New year started with celebration of Makara Sankranthi festival on 14 January 2024 along with admiring   Harry Boniface Prabhu an Indian quadriplegic wheelchair tennis player. Who has shared his life challenging experiences in sporting career.  Prabhu’s speech touched our hearts as it  was such an inspiration  that  made us to reflect the importance of hard work to fulfil our dreams. Sunil Koshy, founder of ‘From Mug to Mike has entertained us with melodious songs and lastly exchange of  Ellu Bella and served with scrumptious Pongal.

A huge thanks to all the work accomplished by the committee members for scheduling and organising events, and presenting  great ideas. Big thanks also goes to Sateesh Savanur for running    the Kannada library  on first and third Sunday of every month without a miss. I would like to appreciate  the amazing work done with professionalism that  has impressed the entire members immensely.

Special thanks to  our Kannada Teachers for  conducting Kannada classes on every Saturday. Which is well acknowledged by our members about their diligence, self-motivation  and  dedication.

I  think I have already mentioned I am still constantly thinking of many of the things I would like to do as president. I always want Melbourne Kannada Sangha  to be an enjoyable, open, place for people to meet and share their experiences. That will always be pretty much top priority. In addition to that, here are several things that come quickly to mind:

  1. Enhance & Enrich our Melbourne Kannada Sangha
  2. Promote and encourage new membership
  3. Continued expression of gratitude to supporters/sponsors & volunteers
  4. Elevate our connection to National & International
  5. Follow meeting delivery protocols and have regular meetings
  6. Continue to work as a group to plan numerous cultural events
  7. Raise Fund for proposed Kannada Bhavana
  8. Extend library services to other parts of Melbourne
  9. Promote & encourage Kannada Class in other parts of Melbourne

I look forward to seeing and listening to all of the great things we can do together. I hope I meet everyone’s expectations.

Thank you

Gandhi Bevinakoppa

Gandhi Bevinakoppa

Events Committee 

Executive Committee 2023-25
Team Spirit
Executive Committee 2022

History of MKS

Welcome to Melbourne Kannada Sangha, Kannada Sangha was formed by all Kannadigas in Melbourne, to bring all kannadigas together to keep our culture and language alive throughout our people and the place. It has been more than 36 years since the formation of this community and has been ever growing with more members and families dedicating to its success. We as a big family get-together on many occasions celebrate all our major festivals together every year, play games, watch movies and have fun together. Welcome aboard again, browse through the site to know more about us and what we do, and feel free to send your suggestions/comments to us of how we can serve you and the community better. Your support Our efforts goes together.
For Melbourne Kannadigas a new chapter began on 10 April 1986 with the inauguration of Melbourne Kannada Sangha (MKS). It is the vision of few committed families at that time saw the establishment of Melbourne Kannada Sangha.
Sangha which began with only few members has since come a long way and we are now fortunate to have a dynamic cultural association. This is the result of commitment and dedication of members and their selfless contribution over the years.
For a number of years MKS operated without an elected committee with volunteers taking on responsibilities and assisting in the activities of the Sangha. MKS was later registered as a non-profit incorporated association in June 2005.
MKS continues to celebrate two festivals UGADI and DASARA annually – the festivals that it celebrated at its inception. Ugadi celebration is a family picnic whereas Dasara is a cultural event, an opportunity to display local talent, especially by children who have been brought up in Australia.
Over the years, to respond to the needs of the growing Kannada community in Melbourne, MKS has increased its activities such as Kannada, Bhakthi Geete and dances classes for children, well equipped Kannada library sessions twice a month, publication of monthly magazine “Melnudi,” organizing and sponsoring programs by overseas artists, honoring visiting VIP’s from Karnataka etc. Thanks to the generous support shown by Kannadigas which has been crucial to the success of these activities and programs.
The community spirit that has been fostered over the years continues to guide us to make the association even more vibrant for the future.