Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Sep 1: A preparatory meeting for the upcoming Mangaluru Dasara festival was held in Mangaluru under the chairmanship of health and family welfare minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister U T Khader.
Speaking at the meeting, Khader stressed the need to organise Mangaluru Dasara on a grand scale by bringing together the district’s religious, cultural and tourism attractions and creating a festive atmosphere during Navratri.
He said major temples including Sri Gokarnanatha, Mangaladevi, Sharavu Mahaganapathi and Kateel Durgaparameshwari should be promoted as part of the festival to attract devotees and tourists from different parts of Karnataka and beyond.
Khader directed all government departments, the Mangaluru City Corporation and local administrative bodies to work in coordination for the smooth conduct of the festival. He also called upon local communities and festival committees to extend their cooperation.
Cleanliness to be given priority
Emphasising cleanliness, Khader directed the Mangaluru City Corporation to ensure daily sanitation during the festival. Special teams should clean roads and festival areas immediately after the nightly celebrations so that the city remains clean every morning.
He also directed officials to ensure that all streetlights along important routes are functional and that potholes and damaged roads on procession and festival routes are repaired before the celebrations.
Garbage vehicle transfer operations currently carried out at public locations, including areas near Ocean Pearl, should be shifted to a dedicated location during the nine to ten days of the festival to avoid inconvenience and a negative impression among visitors.
Special waste management at temples
Khader noted that around 200 temples, both big and small, attract devotees during the festival season. While some temples receive crowds ranging from 100 to 1,000 people, mass-feeding programmes such as 'Annasantarpane' can attract up to 5,000 people a day.
He directed authorities to deploy dedicated garbage vehicles and proper waste collection systems near major temples to handle food waste and other waste generated during such programmes.
He said discussions have already been held with the commissioner and deputy commissioner regarding waste clearance and arrangements related to prasada distribution.
Extra KSRTC buses to be arranged
Khader also called for wider promotion of Mangaluru Dasara beyond Dakshina Kannada. He suggested attracting visitors from districts such as Shivamogga, Koppal, Davanagere and Chitradurga, in addition to nearby areas including Sullia and Puttur.
The tourism department and KSRTC have been asked to coordinate and operate additional buses from surrounding villages and other areas to Mangaluru during the festival, with suitable timings to facilitate travel for families.
Rs 2.2 crore decorative lighting plan
Decorative illumination will be arranged along major routes, including Nanthoor, Lalbagh, PVS Junction, Navabharath Circle, Hampankatta and towards Mangaladevi. The estimated expenditure for this year's decorative lighting arrangements was stated to be around Rs 2.2 crore.
Khader further directed the tourism department to prepare a two-to-three-minute promotional video showcasing Mangaluru Dasara. The video is expected to feature prominent temples, beaches, historical tableaux, processions, 'Huli Vesha' competitions, exhibitions and various cultural programmes.
The meeting was attended by Mangaluru South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath, MLC Ivan D'Souza, Mangaluru mayor Manjula, Santosh Kumar, higher education department secretary and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge secretary Tulasi Madineni, city police commissioner and deputy commissioner Darshan, Mamatha Gatti along with officials and representatives of various temple administrations.