Having succeeded in getting more footfalls for Matsyotsava (fish carnival) and Vasantotsava, Dr. Shivarama Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama is now getting ready to organise a rain festival to take place on June 14.
This festival to be held on Sunday will have, among others, an exhibition and sale of earlier forms of rain protection accessories namely ‘Panooli’ and ‘Gorabe’. There will also be a display of new umbrellas in the market. It will also have a competition of umbrella designing.
“The festival is similar to the concept of Rain Day celebrated in Waynesburg PA in the US,” said Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim on Tuesday.
Numerous activities have been planned for June 14. The South Kanara Agricultural Development Society will prepare a range of agricultural equipment from power tillers to sowing machines. The Agriculture Department will have a separate stall to provide information to farmers. Apart from sowing patterns, the department will provide information about preparing vermicompost. The horticulture department will have stall about terrace gardening and new varieties of ornamental plant species. The Kannada and Culture department will invite ‘ge ge pada’ singers, chende players, and troupes to perform the ‘tiger dance.’ There will also be a performance by young magicians.
The Tourism Department has been asked to arrange caterers serving local cuisine, with special emphasis on jackfruit and cashewnut. There will be a competition of photographs of the rainy season. A separate stall will be kept for rangoli-making and applying mehndi.
“We just want more people to visit the place and relish the environment here,” said Executive Director of the Nisargadhama S.A. Prabhakar Sharma at a meeting held at the office of Deputy Comissioner. As many as 25,000 people visited the place for Matsyotsava held on May 24. Similar number of people visited the place for the Vasantosava held on May 31.
