“The highlight of this year’s Hampi Utsav will be ‘Hampi by sky’, which will provide tourists with an aerial view of Hampi, Daroji Karadi Dham, Tungabhadra river, Sandur forest and surrounding areas,” said B.S. Anand Singh, Minister for Tourism and district in-charge. The Hampi Utsav, a three-day cultural festival, will begin on February 22.
The Minister addressed presspersons here on Tuesday on the outcome of a preparatory meeting. “This time, there will only be three stages in the festival,” he said. “Artistes of national and international fame will be invited to perform in the festival. Besides ‘Hampi by sky’, we also plan to organise ‘Hampi by foot’. There will also be a food court and a crafts bazaar,” he said. The organising committee has also planned a photography competition, titled ‘Hampi through lens’, along with ‘Splash and colours’ — painting, sculpture and wood-carving competitions.
Mr. Singh said that a detailed plan of action had been prepared. The Department of Kannada and Culture would be asked to select artistes. Other departments had also been given specific duties and responsibilities, Mr. Singh added.
Cost
As per a preliminary estimate, Rs. 5 crore would be needed to organise the festival. The departments of Kannada and Culture and Tourism have earmarked Rs. 1 crore each, and would also bear an additional Rs. 50 lakh each. “The remaining Rs. 2 crore will be mobilised locally,” Mr. Singh said.
Among those present were Amlan Aditya Biswas, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the Hampi Utsav Committee, Chandragupta, Superintendent of Police, and Manjunath, zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer.
