Mangaluru: The annual Karavali Utsav, which is hosted by Dakshina Kannada district administration, will be held for ten days from December 23, featuring exhibition, cultural programs, Kabbadi, adventurous sports, performances by state and national-level artists etc. The ten-day festival is estimated to cost Rs. 40 lakh.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Commissioner A.B Ibrahim said the events of festival will be held simultaneously in Karavali Utsav ground, Kadri Park, Panambur beach, Nehru maidan, Canara Girl’s high school, Dongerkeri, Mangaluru. The festival aims to reflect the culture of the district and to attract tourists, he added.
Procession
The festival will begin with a grand procession – consisting of folk and culture of coastal Karnataka. Over 6,000 people are likely to be part of the procession which will be inaugurated by Sadananda Suvarna, eminent film maker and dramatist at 3pm at Nehru Maidan. District-in charge minister B. Ramanath Rai, MLA J.R Lobo, political representatives will join the procession which will start from Nehru maidan to Karavali Utsav ground.
Some of the highlights of Karavali Utsav are:
Beach Utsav
The beach festival will be held in Panambur beach from December 24 to January 1, which will highlight varieties of food and cultural richness. A team from different states will present different shows from 11am to 6pm. There will be beach volleyball, skating, boat riding, fun games. Besides, Team Mangaluru will showcase kite performance.
Exhibition
An exhibition will be in Karavali Utsav ground (Mangala stadium) on December 23. The exhibition includes promotion of government-run departmental shops and other entertaining events.
Cultural program
Students belonging to different schools and colleges will perform cultural programs on all the ten days at the Karavali Utsav ground. In addition to it, there will be a play by Vijaykumar Kodialbail and Devadas Kapikad. Besides, musical show, yakshagana will be part of the program.
Karavali Utsav quiz
There will be a quiz competition for all the high school students, which is classified under general knowledge and mathematics. Those who qualify in the taluk and district level will be awarded at the festival. The competition will be held on December 26 at Canara Girl’s High School, Dongarekeri.
State-level Kabbadi match
As part of the festival, there will be a state-level floodlight Kabbadi match for men and women at Nehru Maidan on December 31 and January 1. Six each teams of men and women who have played state-level matches and two teams each of men and women who played in the district level, will be participating in the tournament. The winning team will receive Rs 1 lakh, Rs 60,000 and Rs. 30,000 respectively.
International player of Mangaluru-origin M.R Poovamma and Mamatha Poojary will witness the tournament.
