Mangaluru: The inaugural function of ten-day ‘Karavali Utsav’, hosted by Dakshina Kannada district administration on Tuesday witnessed key speakers giving a clarion call to regain its past glory and communally harmonious atmosphere.
Inaugurating the festival, educationist Nitte N. Vinay Hegde said that the festival started three decades ago with much hope, making the district a desired destination for all. Over the years, nothing much has changed and since about six years, only the atmosphere of hatred was visible, he said.
The disturbances, which take place at corner, have affected the people and their perception of others. The politicians must think beyond elections and vote banks and restore the honour of the district. Hegde said that at the age of 76, he is pained to see the present state of affairs and noted that the district is not the one now which it was a few decades ago.
District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai, who inaugurated the exhibition too hoped for prevalence of good sense among the people in the district in ensuring communal harmony. Besides, he said that the administration has plans to escalate the celebrations in the coming years. Rai said that he wanted Kambala too to be part of this festival; it could be so from the next year.
The Minister said that the administration has also planned to honour one individual every year during the festival as the man/ woman of the year and a committee to select such an individual has been formed.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, MLA J.R Lobo also spoke on the occasion. Ministers U.T. Khader and K. Abhayachandra Jain, Mayor Mahabala Marla were among others present.
Earlier, there was a grand procession consisting of over 70 professional troupes with different attires.
As part of the festival, beach and food festival will commence at Panambur beach on December 24 with a kite show by Team Mangalore. Competitions in traditional boat rowing, sand sculpture, beach volleyball, beach cricket, skating for children, adventure skiing, boating and food stalls with exclusive Tulunadu, Kodava, Uttar Kannada, Kerala and Gujarati dishes will be the highlights of nine-day beach festival. Training in surfing will be held on Sasihitlu-Mulky river. Special cruise for visitors will be arranged during the festival at Gurupur river. Cultural programmes including classical dance, Hindustani music, Carnatic music, talamaddale, mandolin recital, bansuri-sitar jugalbandi, semi-classical Kannada, Tulu songs and magic show will be held at Kadri Park in the evenings from December 23 to January 1.
