BANGALORE, June 11: Badayi Nandu, Badhai Nandu. A message of farewell, a message of congratulations. One chapter ended, only to herald the beginning of another. One glorious episode written in the history of sports in Karnataka while another just begins in the north-eastern corner of the country in Imphal, Manipur two years from now.

The largest congregation in the sporting history of the country. About 10,000 sportspersons and officials gathered for the fourth National Games which began May 31. At the end of 12 days of competition and festivities and there was an inevitable touch of sadness and nostalgia.

As the five flags were lowered to the sound of bugles, athletes just stood wherever they were and watched. The flags of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, the Indian Olympic Association, the Karnataka Olympic Association alongside the National tricolour fluttered during the 11 days of the competitions. There was no need for words. The Games flame was lowered to be lit later in Manipur two years hence.

The Indian Air Force and Army team of para jumpers led by Sqn Leader Kaushik, began the day's programme with a sky diving display from over 6,000 feet. The nine sky divers made a successful landing in the Sree Kanteerava Stadium premises. Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral who was the chief guest for the closing ceremony was accompanied by a host of other diginitaries -- Chief Minister of Delhi Sahib Singh Verma, Chief Minister of Manipur, Reishing Keishing, Union Minister for Human Resources Development S R Bommai, Mayor of Bangalore City Padmavathi G Gowda among others.

The Karnataka CM J H Patel, in his welcome address, admitted to some lapses due to lack of technical advice but Bangalore was the place where things happened. ``The world's beauties came here, the best sportsmen are here,'' he recounted.

The Prime Minister whose speech was drowned in the noise caused by a series of Mexican waves, gave away the Raja Bhalindra Singh Trophy to hosts Karnataka as the best team with a maximum of 741 points. Asian Games and Commonwealth medallist Jaspal Rana, the ace shooter who created a world record at the Games here was adjudged the best sportsperson and received the IOA Cup. Swimmer J Abhijit of Karnataka was adjudged the best sportsman while teammate Nisha Millet was awarded the honour in the women's section.In all 141 Games records were broken - 56 of them by Karnataka's sportspersons. IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said that this was the beginning of a new era for sportsmen with a determination to excel.

Kalmadi presented two momentoes on behalf of the IOA to J H Patel and State Sports minister Ajay Kumar Sarnaik in recognition of their contribution to sports. He also said that Karnataka had contributed Rs 25 lakhs towards building the Olympic Bhavan while the CMs of Delhi and Maharashtra had given Rs ten lakh each and the Chief Minister of Manipur Rs five lakhs.As Karnataka swimmer Sajini Shetty presented the IOC flag to the chief mInister to be ceremonially handed over to the next hosts, the protocol part of the Games ended. The colourful cultural show began with a re-run of the theme song sung by Dr Rajkumar Kreeda Mela Chetana Sheela.

The Karaga, an integral part of Karntaka's culture, depicting the holy power of Adi Shakti who guides and protects people, was presented by Government High school girls to the song sung by Chandrika Gururaj and Vishnu, tuned by Prem Kumar. This was followed by Janapada Vaibhava, a mosaic of different folkarts coexisting in Karnataka. Folk art is not song and dance; it includes martial arts like kattivarase, donnevarase, beesu kamsale, Kodagina katti and the like.

Shyamala Bhave's music for Bidayi Nandu, Badhai Nandu composed by Yagnik and sung by S P Balasubramaniam with a promise to come together at a new place must surely have touched the hearts of the thousands that had gathered at the stadium.

The claps were the loudest for the kolata number Cheluvaiah cheluvo, tani tandana... Deepanjali, a dance number based on the theme of enlightenment choreographed by theatre personality B Jayashree, performed by the students of Kumaran Childrens Home and the display of fireworks provided the finale to the event.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.