Kalamandira auditorium, one of the popular venues for hosting cultural programmes in Mysuru, can now be booked online.
Persons interested in booking the 1,200-seating capacity auditorium situated on Vinoba Road in Mysuru should access the official website of Department of Kannada and Culture at www.kannadasiri.co.in, where they have to enter “Kalakshetragalu” and choose the Kalamandira auditorium among the various auditoriums of the State.
However, persons seeking to book Kalamandira need to register themselves on the website by providing various details. Booking of the auditorium can be carried out on the calendar, which shows the available slots and already booked slots.
After booking the dates, they will receive an e-mail from the authorities within three working days detailing the terms and conditions and the amount. “The booking will be confirmed if they agree to the terms and conditions and make the payment in three days,” Assistant Director of Department of Kannada and Culture, Nirmala Matapathi told The Hindu .
Though there will soon be an option to even pay online, said Ms Matapathi said the Department will accept cash towards the booking of the auditorium by DD for the time being.
The cost for booking the auditorium differs on the basis of the programme. “There are different rates for commercial programmes and different rates for theatre activities. Also, the venue need not be booked for the whole day. It can even be booked for morning session or afternoon session,” said an official.
Already, the booking of Ravindra Kalakshetra has been shifted online. “For the last six months, Ravindra Kalakshetra is being booked online. We were waiting for the necessary connectivity to make the booking of Kalamandira available online,” said Ms. Matapathi. Online booking of Kalamandira has been made available since April 1, 2016.
The purpose behind making introducing the online option for booking Kalamandira is to help the troupes and performers from across the State and the country, said Ms. Matapathi.
“If a troupe from Dharwad wishes to perform in Kalamandira, the organisers need not come all the way from Dharwad to book the venue. They can do so online,” she said.
