Mangalore: Fabulous Beach Festival at Panambur off to Grand Start

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Pics: Dayanand Kukkajje
 
Mangalore, Feb 2: The multi-hued beach festival organized by the district administration as part of Karavali Utsav, kicked off with a flourish at the Panambur beach here on Friday February 1. People converged en-mass from all corners of the city, to the beach to witness yet another gala event following the hugely successful kite festival from Team Mangalorean, which ended just a few weeks ago.   

The entire beach wore a festive look with old, young and little children scattered all over the beach area. There were several new adventure games hosted at the festival, enticing city brave hearts to put on their adventure shoes. 

The city populace was for the first time possibly in their lives, taken on a joy ride inside a 'Zorb' which is a giant transparent inflatable plastic ball, with opening on one side. The enthusiasts are safely harnessed to the wall of the zorb which is manually pushed to rotate and then taken on a spin. Thanks to Sultan Battery Water Sports and Outback Adventure Centre, city persons were able to have this exciting experience of zorbing at a meagre price of Rs 100.  

So enticing and exciting it looked that even the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) joint commissioner Ajith Kumar Hegde and assistant commissioner, city sub-division Sameer Shukla could not resist taking a spin in the zorb. Emerging out of the zorb after the ride, Shukla described his experience as a very exciting and thrilling venture while Hegde found the world from above as a round; however he said he felt the zorb ride a little too hot for his liking.   

Other more adventure sports offered here are a speedboat ride, rafting and kayaking, once again thanks to Sultan Battery Water Sports and Adventure Centre. If water beckons to brave hearts then they must try a Banana Boat ride. A speed-boat drags a large inflated tube which resembles a giant banana. Those riding the banana boat will come out wet when the speedboat takes a sharp turn. While kayaking costs Rs 75 per person for 20 minutes, rafting costs Rs 50 per person for 20 minutes, speed boating Rs 100 per person for 15 minutes and banana boating Rs 100 per person for 15 minutes. An adventure stall has also been put up by Outback Adventures in the premises with all camping gears.  

For all city gourmets or even lovers of seafood, an seafood counter along with several others has been set up by the Mogaveera Vyavasthapaka Mandali serving lip-smacking Mangalorean delicacies like anjal, bangude, bondas, and the pomfret (all varieties of fish), both 'sukka' and 'gashi'. According to president of the Mandali Vasudev Boloor they have take ample care to bring in only fresh fish each day. In addition On Friday Jan 2, at about 6.30 pm some of the selected dance troupes from the district presented a dance show.  
 
On Saturday February 2 at 4.30 am a discourse by the Art of Living, Mangalore will be held.  Various events such as swimming and traditional boat race at 10 am, and beach volleyball (men) and beach throwball (women) competition at 10.30 am are all planned for Saturday, Feb 2. While Team Mangalorean at 4 pm will present yet another kite show and at 6.30 pm renowned Tulu, Konkani and Beary artists will present several cultural programmes.

According to an official press release in view of the beach festival, the movement of heavy vehicles has been banned between city and Suratkal between 1 pm and 10 pm. The vehicles can ply via Nanthoor-Vamanjoor-Kaikamba-Gurpura-Bajpe-Kinnigoli-Mulki, added the release.