Daijiworld Media Network - (NR)
 
Mangalore Jan 6: The historical Kadri Manjunatha temple will be playing host to the annual festival and Shri Maha Rathotsava at its saroscant premises from January 15 to 23, with the Mallika Kala Vrinda (MKV) organizing 65 cultural programmes in the course of the festival. The MKV started in 1950 has been organizing cultural and religious programmes at the temple for the past 56 years.
 
This information was given by Sudhakar Rao Pejavar, secretary of Kala Vrinda, while speaking to media persons here on Saturday, January 6. He said that over 1,500 artistes from 65 teams will be presenting varied programmes from January 14 to 24 in a total span of 11 days.

The schedule of the programmes are as follows:
 
The festival will commence with the 'Theerthasnana' on January 15. This will be followed by 'Bikarnakatta Savari Bali', 'Mallikatta Savari Bali', 'Mundakatta Savari Bali' and the 'Konchadi Savari Bali' to be held on January 17,18,19 and 20 respectively. The seventh 'Deepotsava' will be held on January 21. While the 'Shree Malaraya Daiva Nemotsava' will also be organized as part of the festival on January 25.
 
Different cutural programmes are planned to mark the festival at the temple premises, which will include 'Bala Pratibhotsava', 'Yuva Pratibhotsava', 'Mahila Pratibhotsava', Kannada-Tulu drama fest, Yakshagana, 'Nrityotsava', 'Harikatha', 'Pravachana', magic show, 'Yogasana' demonstration, Bhagavad-gita reciting competition, speech competition and 'Dasara' songs singing competition for school children.
 
Further, Pejavar added that circulars with regard to competitions have already been sent to schools and over 300 students are expected to participate. Senior and talented artistes would be felicitated for their contribution in their respective fields.
 
Kala Vrinda general secretary Arunkumar Shetty, Prabhakar Rao Pejavar and Sanath Kumar Jain were present on the occasion.