The two-day ‘Gaganachukki Jalapathotsava’, organised to give a boost to tourism, commenced at the picturesque Gaganachukki in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district on Saturday night.
Mandya MP Ramya, Minister for Housing M.H. Ambareesh, Minister for Revenue V. Srinivas Prasad and others inaugurated the utsav in a glittering function.
While cultural troupes performed in the backdrop of the waterfalls, the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation illuminated the Gaganachukki Falls with colourful lightings. Nearly 15,000 tourists, majority of them from Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Mysore districts, thronged the venue to enjoy the utsav.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation had arranged special buses from different places to Gaganachukki Falls for the utsav.
Malavalli MLA P.M. Narendraswamy, Mandya Deputy Commissioner B.N. Krishnaiah, Superintendent of Police Borase Bhushan Gulabrao, Assistant Commissioner Shantha L. Hulmani, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P.C. Jayanna, Malavalli tahsildar Rajesh, Mandya tahsildar B.K. Mamatha and others were also present on the occasion.
Procession
Earlier in the day, noted writer A.R. Mitra inaugurated a colourful procession in which hundreds of folk artists and students participated.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to take part in the valedictory ceremony of the utsav on Sunday.
There will be cultural shows, folk performances, fireworks and laser show at Gaganachukki on Sunday.
