Karavali Utsav to be celebrated on a grand scale this year

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 16, 2014: The district administration has decided to organise the Karavali Utsav 2014 in all its grandeur, featuring food festival, cultural and music festivals and exhibition stalls unfolding the coastal culture to the world from December 20 to December 31.

In a meeting convened to discuss the preparations for the festival, dstrict in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai said the Utsava had not come to his notice since about four years, andd asked the administration to ensure this year’s festival reaches everyone.

He also asked officers to examine the possibility of arranging a cruise during the festival so as to attract more people. Mr. Rai said the festival should be organised with a view to attract people from across the State.

Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said that while exhibition stalls and related activities of the festival could be arranged at the Karavali exhibition grounds, cultural programmes and weekend special programmes could be arranged at the Kadri Park. He said a national-level artiste could be invited to render a musical performance to mark the festival.

Mr. Ibrahim said about Rs. 50 lakh was spent for the festival last year and this year Rs. 1.5 crore is allotted to the festival to make it more vibrant. Rs. 50 lakh each was expected from the State government, sponsors and sale of exhibition stalls, he said. The Deputy Commissioner said the food festival could be arranged at the beach.

An official from the Horticulture Department said Kadri Park might not be able to accommodate more than 2,000 people for cultural programmes. More footfalls would only damage the park, he said.

Minister of State for Sports and Youth Empowerment K. Abhayachandra Jain, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sadashiva Prabhu and other officials attended the meeting.

Rajyotsava readiness

In another meeting held to deliberate upon Rajyotsava celebrations, the administration decided to hold the afternoon cultural function at Kadri Park as the Town Hall was closed for renovation.

Mr. Ibrahim asked officials to arrange the cultural soiree in such a way that the programme would not return to Town Hall in the future. Different departments have been asked to participate in the morning procession from Jyothi (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar) Circle to Nehru Maidan where the celebrations would be launched.

About 5,000 students from different schools in the city are expected to participate in the procession along with members of Women Self Help Groups and anganwadi volunteers.

 

Courtesy: The hindu