Express News Service
Mangalore, Dec 19: The Karavali Utsav- 2008 will entertain people of Dakshina Kannada and other districts from December 22 to February 4.
Programmes will be held at different places in the district, other than exhibition at Mangala Stadium. Cultural programmes will be held at the Mangalore Town Hall and Kambala will be held at Pilikula.
A flower show will also be organised as part of the programme at Pilikula. The beach festival will be organised from January 25 to 27 in Mangalore coast. An exhibition related to Indian Independence struggle in the Azadi Express will be an added attraction of the celebration.
DC M Maheshwar Rao addressing a press conference here on Tuesday said that the district administration had decided to cancel the procession due to lack of response from the people.
Zilla Panchayat (ZP) president K P Sucharitha Shetty would inaugurate the Karavali Utsav while the exhibition would be inaugurated by Tourism Secretary I M Vittala Moorthy. MP D V Sadananda Gowda would preside.
White House: An entrance resembling White House of America would be designed at the Mangala Stadium. Exhibition counters and other space were given on contract basis for Rs 75 lakh. Entry fee on weekdays would be Rs 10 and Rs 15 on holidays.
Entry to cultural programmes to be organised at the Town Hall in Mangalore would be free. The district administration would also distribute prizes to the winners in the competitions to be held as part of the festival, he added.
Hot-air balloons: People would have opportunity to fly in the hot-air balloon at the Nehru Maidan in Mangalore from December 22 to 26. Four people could fly in a balloon, which will be controlled by a pilot. The timings would be from 6.30 to 11 am and fee per head would be Rs 500. People could fly for twenty minutes, he added.
Azadi Train: The Azadi Train which was set up in commemoration of 150th anniversary of first Indian Independence struggle would provide information on Indian Independence struggle. The train would reach Mangalore on December 27.
The train would be kept for public view near Goods Shed at Bunder and the exhibition would be inaugurated by him, he said and added that more information on Karavali Utsav would be available at www.karavaliutsav.com.
ZP chief executive officer A M Kunjappa, Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Krishnappa Poojari and Information department deputy director H P Ramalinge Gowda were present.