Karkala: All Karnataka Beladingala Sahitya Sammelan a Mega Success 
 
News by Shekar Ajekar
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Karkala (RD/CN)

Karkala, Feb 10: Karnataka Sahitya Parishat former president Harikrishna Punaroor inaugurated the first 'All Karnataka Beladingala Sahitya Sammelan' on the evening of Monday February 9, by offering puja to Mother Earth, as per  Tulunadu tradition observed on the occasion of Keddessa.

The Sammelan was held as part of the decennial celebrations of 'Gramotsav' by Kurpady Yuva Vranda, which has organized nine Gramotsavs in the surrounding villages in the past providing a platform for rural talents to shine.

Punaroor, in his inaugural address, said that this Sammelan was an innovative programme which should be held elsewhere in the state.

Kannada limericks award winner H Dundiraj was the chairman of the Sammelan. He said that urban people seem to have no interest for literature and art. “They are busy in the pursuit of wealth. Programmes held in cities are patronized by very few people and it is a tragedy that the rural people are also following suit”, he said. 

Karnataka Sahitya Parishat Udupi district president Ambatanaya Mudrady, Karkala taluk president Prof Padmanabha Gowda, Kundapur taluk president Ko Ramanand Kamath, Sammelan Samiti president Dr Santosh Kumar Shetty, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik and others were present on the dais.

Various awards were presented on the occasion. Recipeints included Manipal Academy of General Education administrative officer Dr H Shantaram (Shikshana Ratna), Udupi Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Ambatanaya Mudrady (Sahitya Ratna), Dr Vasant Kumar Perla (Madhyama Ratna), Bhootaradane celebrant Kocha Panara (Janapada Kalaratna), Shivaram Kasargod (Horanada Kannada Ratna), K H Ganesh (Yaksha Sangati Ratna), Jyoti Guruprasad and Literary Union's Tukaram Nayak (Sangha Ratna). Marne gram panchayat member Leelakshi Acharya received the 'Sadhana Gourav' on behalf of her panchayat.

Women were accorded due honour at the event with the first literary session at the Sammelan. It was attended by eminent women from various districts across the state.

An exhibition of photographs by ace cameramen of the Udupi District Photo Journalists' Association was also held on the occasion.

MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik released the souvenir of Kurpady Yuva Vranda and other books for students authored by leading writers.

Yakshagana Taalamaddale 'Vamana Charitre' by Yaksha Jyotii Yaksha troupe and other mythological Yakshagana plays were staged on the occasion.

All the participants were treated to food, snacks, and beverages, throughout the night-long Sahitya Sammelan.