Mangalore: Fun Time Begins as Annual Karavali Utsav Kicks Off
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Dec 21: ‘Karavali Utsav’ the name that instantly sparks a festive feel among the people of Dakshina Kannada was inaugurated at Karavali Utsav ground near Lalbagh here on Friday December 21. Like every year, this time too the entrance is a unique one, carved out in the shape of a giant fish.
Inaugurating the event, higher education and district incharge minister C T Ravi said that the richness of any country is measured by its cultural prosperity and not on the basis of its monetary viability or dollar value.
"The land of Dakshina Kannada district located in the west coast has given space for diversified art forms like Yakshagana, Nagaradane, Bhootharadane, Kambala and cradled various languages like Kannada, Tulu, Beary and Konkani. Taking part in utsavas (festivities) gives one a sense of belonging and gets rid of loneliness," he said, adding that that materialistic world does not give contentment.
Recalling his visit to the United States sometime ago, C T Ravi said that the country’s history does not go back to more than 300 years, but India has a tradition dating back to thousands of years, and yet the country is keeping up with contemporary developments. He called upon the gathering, majority of whom were school children, to inculcate social responsibility.
Deputy speaker of the legislative assembly Yogish Bhat presided. MLA Krishna J Palemar, DC N Prakash, ZP CEO Dr Vijay Prakash, mayor Gulzar Banu, deputy mayor Amithakala, MLC Monappa Bhandary, MCC Commissioner Dr Harish Kumar, IGP Pratap Reddy, MUDA chairman S Ramesh, Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy president Rahim Uchil, DK district Kannada Sahithya president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, Karnataka State Fisheries Development Board president Nithin Kumar, and former MLA Kumble Sundar Rao were present on the dais.
Fireworks display and dancing dolls entertained the school children gathered at the venue. Exhibition, cultural programmes, kite festival, adventurous sports, boating, and beach festival are part of this 38-day cultural extavaganza. The exhibition will open full-fledge from December 27 and go on till January 27, 2013.
From 7 pm to 10 pm, musical evening by Lagori team, Bangalore entertained the crowd.