Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (CLP)
Mangalore, Aug 18: 'Konkani Manyata Divas' has been celebrated by Konkani people from the past 22 years and this year the Konkani Sahitya Academy will celebrate it in grand style on Wednesday August 20 at Town Hall here.
Addressing a press meet here on Monday August 18, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino said that the Indian government has recognized 22 languages and listed them in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution, among which Konkani language is one. Konkani language was recognized on August 20,1992, he said.
The opening ceremony will be at 9 am. Mayor Mahabala Maarla will inaugurate the programme by hoisting the Konkani flag. Students and various associations will perform in talent shows. As many as 23 teams will participate in the event. The programme will take place from 9 am to 3.30 pm. Konkani Bavageetha Lahari will be from 3.30 pm to 5 pm. Cultural teams and associations will take out a procession from various parts of Mangalore at 3.30 pm.
Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy has also arranged honouring of 25 different Konkani associations who have dedicated immensely for the growth of Konkani language.
Konkani Research Fellowship will be awarded to Dr Jayavanth Nayak, Geeta Shenoy and Manjunath Kamath, who have researched on various Konkani subjects.
The closing ceremony will be held at 5 pm in Town Hall. District in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai will be the cheif guest for the event. MLA J R Lobo, minister for health and family welfare U T Khadar, minister for youth services and sports Abhayachandra Jain, MLA Mohiuddin Bava, MLC Ivan D'Souza and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel will also be present.
Various Konkani food items will be displayed at nominal prices.
Roy Castelino also briefed about the various projects like census of Konkani artistes around the state, sponsoring for two students who are studying MA in Goa and educating the people who struggle to read and write Konkani.
Lawrence D'souza, K Devadas Pai, Shekar Gowda and Dr B Devadas Pai were present during the press meet.