By Sunil Haleangady

Daijiworld Media Network—Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Aug 29: 20th district Kannada literary conference began in Kateel on Friday August 28.

A spectacular Bhuvaneshwari procession was held before that as a prelude to the three-day long 20th district literary conference in Kateel.

Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat member Ishwar Kateel flagged off the procession at Mahakali Brahmamugera Temple in Gidigere. Mennabettu grama panchayat first citizen Sarojini offered flowers to the deity Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. Ekkaru grama panchayat first citizen Suresh Shetty Ekkaru lit the lamp and officially inaugurated the procession.

A special vehicle decorated with flowers ferried conference president Dr N Sukumara Gowda, minister K Abhayachandra Jain, executive president Harinarayanadasa Asranna, and district president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, a tableau depicted the Mysuru ‘Dasara’, Bharath Seva Dal members, tiger dancers, members of the Scouts and Guides, drums, saxophone musicians, Bhagavad Geetha and feather palm novels were on a chariot, while a palanquin was laden with the literary works of ‘Jnana Peetha’ awardee and conference president Dr Gowda and women carried ‘Poornakumbha’ pots in the procession.

All the students of Kateel educational institutes enthusiastically participated in the procession. The procession started at Gidigere Temple, proceeded via Degree College Road, Ajaru Road, main bus stand, temple Car Street and concluded in the vicinity of Kateel Pre-University College.

The national flag was hoisted by Kondemoola grama panchayat president Geetha Poojarthy while the Parishad flag was hoisted by district president S Pradeep Kumar Kalkura and the Conference flag was hoisted by Mangaluru taluk panchayat member Baby Sundara Kotian.

Speaking on the inaugural function later union law minister Sadananda Gowda said that no single organisation can claim that Kannada language belongs to it. He said that Kannada belonged to all Kannadigas and Kannada will only prosper with a conducive atmosphere for the development of the language.

Karnataka legislative council chairman D H Shankaramurthy said " The attitude of people that they are superior if they speak in English should vanish first. Kannada should be encouraged in the legislature fist. There is no threat from anywhere to Kannada. It is rich enough to place the challenges."

More than 50 publishers have participated in the shops set up on the large space at Kateel Pre University College premises. There were about 40 shops with items prepared by independent women through self-help groups.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Minister K Abhayachandra Jain, Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, temple manager Ningayya, committee member Bhuvanabhirama Udupa, Jayaram Poonja, Sainath Shetty, Dayananda Kateel, and Bharath Seva Dal district organizer T S Manjegowda were present among others.