Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 19: Assistant commissioner of Mangalore division, Prabhulinga Kavalikatti, informed at a press conference held in the city on Tuesday January 18, that ‘Beach Utsav’, being held annually as part of ‘Karavali Utsav’ will be held at Panambur beach between January 21 and 23. Various competitions, cultural programmes, and food festival, will be part of the Beach Utsav, he explained.

The competitions slated to be organized during these three days are country boat racing, swimming, beach volleyball, beach throw ball, kite flying, competition of drawing art on sand, skating, chende, and boat excursion at sea, he said. On the first day, different competitions between various selected teams, kite flying display by ‘Team India’, and dance competition between 20 troupes will be organized, he revealed.

At 6 am on January 23, Prasad Kaparde from Pune will render ‘Udayaraga’. This will be followed by skating contest for school children in front of Lord Nandaneshwara Temple, swimming, country boats competition and competition of drawing art in sand. Five dance troupes, which get chosen for the finals, will face each other in the evening on the concluding day. The winners of dance competition will take away a cash prize of Rs 30,000, while the runner up team and second runner up team will be given Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively as cash reward, Kavalikatte revealed.

“On the basis of our past experience, nearly a lac people are expected to take part in the Beach Utsav. To manage the event, additional security and safety steps are being taken, and closed circuit cameras will be fitted at different spots. Metal detectors will be installed at all entry points. Three ambulances and a clinic will be operational at the venue,” he added.

For the food festival, about 25 additional stalls will be set up for providing tasty traditional food items from the coast. At the valedictory ceremony, the troupe of renowned singes, Rajesh Krishnan and Chaitra, will present an entertainment programme. The contestants who have entered the finals in the singing competition held during the Utsav will get a chance to perform along with this troupe, he said.

For the Utsav, parking for over a thousand vehicles is being arranged, and separate passes will be issued for the vehicles of VVIPs, he explained.

Deputy director in the fisheries department, Suresh Kumar, and organizer, Yatish Bykampady, were present at the press conference.