The month-long Karavali Utsav began at Karavali Utsav Grounds on Friday. Various cultural events, an exhibition and a beach utsav will be held as part of the utsav that will be celebrated till January 27.
After inaugurating the event, C.T. Ravi, Minister for Higher Education, said that the country’s richness was known not by the wealth of its people but by its rich cultural diversity. The country had a rich mix of ancient and modern traditions, he said.
Mr. Ravi said the Dakshina Kannada region was not only known for its cultural diversity but as a place where many languages were spoken. Events such as Karavali Utsav brought out the cultural diversity here. It helped alleviate the loneliness that was a by-product of disconnected modern society and gave rise to a sense of belongingness in a person. Such cultural events made people feel one with the environment. The Karavali Utsav should be spectacular enough to attract attention of the world, he said.
The exhibition began on a low key on Friday. As against Guttina Mane featured last year, entrance to the exhibition depicted a big fish with its mouth wide open. “You have to enter it to have a feel of the articles (exhibited) inside,” said president of the Dakshina Kannada Sahitya Parishat Pradeep Kumar Kalkura.
This year 76 artistes and their teams would perform at Karavali Utsav Grounds and at Kadri Park. Lagori team from Bangalore was the first group that performed on Friday evening. A light music programme by Gurudas Shenoy and team from Bangalore and by Vidya Manoj and team from Belthangady would be held at Karavali Utsav Grounds on Saturday evening. At Kadri Park, there would be a Shehenai recital by Fakirappa Bhajantri followed by a vocal recital by M.S. Sheela.