The annual Karavali Beach Utsav will be held on Saturday and Sunday at Panambur beach, said Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim on Friday.
The two-day festival, organised at a cost of Rs. 7 lakh to 8 lakh, will consist of traditional coastal food festival, a kite festival led by ‘Team Mangalore’, sand art competitions, adventure sports, beach volleyball, “chande” music and a “beach prince” and “beach princess” competition for children aged three to five. Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat president Koragappa Naik and the former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda will be chief guests.
Mr. Ibrahim said he has held talks with authorities at New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) for improving the approach road to the beach from the national highway. The road has trucks parked on both sides and has an uneven surface. The next meeting will be held after two weeks.
He said the Karavali Utsav is likely to be extended by 15 days. He blamed other media such as television for the low attendance seen at the Utsav. “Very few people go for live programmes, whether it is on culture or sports or anything else. Even if you get a national level figure, there is no attendance,” he said.
He added the beach festival has no entry fee.
