Raleigh (North Carolina): In a proud moment for Tulunadu, ‘Poovari’ — the only monthly magazine published in the Tulu language — was officially launched in the United States during the ‘Aata Siri Parba–2025’ celebrations, marking a historic milestone for the Tulu diaspora worldwide.
Published from Puttur in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district and edited by Vikubha Hebbarbailu, Poovari is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Its special June issue was released at an event organized by the All American Tulu Angana (AATA) in association with the Triangle Tuluvere Chavadi in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The event saw the participation of several prominent members of the Tulu community, including Dr. Saigeetha Mangalore (Tokuruguttu family), Dr. Ravi Shetty (Qatar), Shekhar Naik (Connecticut), AATA founder Bhaskar Sherigar (Boston), AATA President Srivalli Rai Martel (Florida), Siri Parba coordinator Ranjani Asaigoli, Sudarshan Shetty (Canada), and others from New York and North Carolina.
With an estimated 20 million speakers across nearly 40 communities worldwide, Tulu is a significant language with deep cultural roots, though it still lacks official recognition. Poovari, as the only dedicated monthly in the language, has become a symbol of linguistic pride and preservation among the global Tulu-speaking population.
At the event, speakers hailed editor Vijayakumar Hebbar Bail for his efforts in preserving Tulu heritage and literature. “Running a regional-language magazine is challenging — even more so when the number of writers in that language is limited. Yet, Hebbarbailu has successfully sustained Poovari and strengthened the Tulu literary voice,” they said.
Community leaders urged Tulu associations across other countries to support the magazine and carry forward its mission. The day, many opined, deserved to be remembered in “golden letters” in Tulu history for establishing the presence of a Tulu publication on a global platform.
