Mangaluru: The district administration will hold Karavali Utsav and flower exhibition from January 23, said the district minister in-charge B Ramanath Rai in a press meet held at the DC’s office here on January 18.
The district administration held a meeting of the Karavali Utsav committee to finalize the date, venue and the cultural programmes for the Utsav and also to hold a Flower exhibition in the city. Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim said that the Karavali Utsav was supposed to be held on December 23 to January 3 but due to the election code of conduct we were unable to organize the Utsav. He asked the committee members to finalize the date and venue, the Karavali Utsav will be held from January 23 to January 31 and the Flower exhibition and food festival will be held from January 23 to January 26.
The flower exhibition will be held at the Kadri Park, the inauguration will be held at 3:00PM and at 6:00 PM the Karavali Utsav will be inaugurated. A procession will be held from Kadri Park to the Karavali Grounds after the inauguration of the Flower exhibition.
The state government has sanctioned Rs 30 lakh. Another Rs 23 lakh will be spent by Mangaluru City corporation. If additional funds are required, the committee will collect from the sponsors.
Sub committees of the Karavali Utsav have been formed and responsibilities have been given to each committee. The beach festival will be held on January 30 and 31 at the Panambur Beach. The food festival will be held at the Kadri Park. On all the 9 days there will be cultural programmes. This time 50% opportunities will be given to the local artistes to exhibit their talents and 50% national and international fame artistes will perform.
This time the flower Exhibition will be organized in a different way. The theme will be Yakshagana and there will be a fountain with colour lights. 80 stalls will be erected in the park. Representatives from 30 Hotels have showed their interest to take part in the food festival.
MLA J R Lobo said that this time the festival will be held till 9:00 PM. The high mast lighting will be shifted from Pumpwell circle to Kadri Park, so that people can freely move around.
District minister in-charge Ramanath Rai said that the Karavali Utsav should be organised in a systematic way. “The utsav should attract people and we need to take all the measures to do so. In this regard we need good publicity and media should play a vital role in this regard.
Mayor Jacintha Alfred, ADC Kumar, MCC commissioner Dr H N Gopalkrishna, MUDA Chairman Ibrahim Kodijal, President Konkani Sahitya Academy Roy Castelino, President of Tulu Sahitya Academy Janaki Brahmavar, President of Beary Sahitya Academy Mohammed Haneef, Information officer Khader Shah, Mohammed Nazeer, and others were also present.