Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Mar 13: Holapu - 2021, sports and cultural meet of panchayat raj and local city administration representatives of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district was inaugurated on Saturday March 13 at the campus of Kota Viveka Educational Institute under the aegis of Kotathattu gram panchayat Dr Shivarama Karanth Foundation (R), Kota on the occasion of the birthday of late Dr Shivarama Karanth.
Inaugurating the meet, Avadhoota Vinay Guruji said, "It is a welcome development that all the panchayat representatives are getting united under our flag. Organizing such a cultural and sports meet in the land of Dr Shivarama Karanth is really appreciable. It is a matter of celebration that all are getting united through the Holapu programme.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel received the guard of honour during the march past. Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat hoisted the flag. MLC Appaji Gowda administered the oath to the participants. MLA U T Khader lit the sports lamp. MLC Pratap Simha Gowda flagged off the sports activities by letting off the balloons in the air. M N Rajendra Kumar, president of Karnataka State Cooperative Sales Corporation, flagged off the march past. The programme was presided over by Kotathattu gram panchayat president Ashwini Dinesh.
State backward community welfare and Hindu endowment and muzrai minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, president of coastal development authority Mattaru Ratnakara Hegde, zilla panchayat president Dinakar Babu, vice president Sheela K Shetty, member of the national women's commission Shyamala S Kundar, vice president of food and civil supplies corporation Kiran Kodgi, chief secretary of rural development and panchayat raj department Athiq, chief planning officer of zilla panchayat Srinivas Rao, vice president Kiran Pednekar and others were present.
An attractive march past was presented by representatives of panchayat raj and city local administration of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Various tableau, characters from Yakshagana art, Thatteraya characters, drum-beating by Koraga community, buffaloes of Kambala, tableau about Covid and teams of representatives wearing traditional dresses increased the beauty of the programme.
Prizes were distributed to panchayats that have shown incredible achievement in the Panchayati raj sector of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The winning team of march past was also given the prize.
MLA Lalaji Mendon, MLC K Pratapchandra Shetty, various people representatives and officers were present. Anand C Kundar welcomed the gathering. The programme was compered by Narendra Kumar Kota.
Cultural competitions like super minute, singing, fancy dress, sports events like 100-meter race, shot put, Ring in the wicket, pot breaking, team events like tug of war and throw ball for women were held.