Gear up for a feel of the glory of Vijayanagar empire during the rule of Sri Krishnadevaraya here from Friday.
The Tourism Department's sound and light show “Raya Ratha” on the occasion of 500 years of Sri Krishnadevaraya's coronation is being held for two days from March 5. Presentations for schools will begin on March 4 itself.
Announcing this, Additional Deputy Commissioner S.A. Prabhakar Sharma said the one-hour sound and light show chronicling the rise and fall of the empire would start around 7 p.m.
The presentations for schoolchildren will have information about various facets of the Vijayanagar empire, including Hampi. These presentations will be held on Friday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., on Saturday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
M.K. Mutt, Assistant Director of Bangalore's Innovative Lighting System, which has devised the programme, said the event in Mangalore was their ninth show. Two troupes had been formed to perform the shows in 20 different places.
Mr. Mutt said about 300 artistes worked for several days to come out with this 70-minute programme. Over 500 lights had been used in the fibre-based set that was being transported in 13 vehicles. He said the timings of presentation for schoolchildren on Sunday would depend on the requests by schools.
The event would be inaugurated by Minister for Ports and Fisheries J. Krishna Palemar at the Nehru Maidan on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Tourism Department is organising the event in coordination with the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and the Dakshina Kannada district administration.
