The two-day Jalapatotsava (falls festival) at the Gaganachukki Waterfalls in Malavalli taluk started on a colourful note on Saturday with cultural performances. The 322-foot high natural wonder provided a breathtaking backdrop.
This is the fourth time that the district administration and departments of tourism and Kannada and culture are conducting the event. A number of ministers including K J George (Home), K Rehman Khan (Minority Welfare), Ramalinga Reddy (Transport), M B Patil (Major and Medium Irrigation) and Abhay Chandra Jain (Fisheries) were present at the event.
On Saturday morning, a cultural jatha was flagged off with noted writer A R Mitra inaugurating the programme.
The event began with Meravanige, a Janapada Kala Jatha from Sri Rama Mandira to the main stage. The police band, NCC cadets and other troupes from schools and colleges presented various cultural programmes, including dances, as well as depictions of tourist spots in Mandya.
Students of Shanti PU College from Malavalli presented Maragalu Kunitha, while 12 troupes of school students performed folk dance programmes.
Students of Suprabatha High School from Srirangapatna staged a programme on the environment while a team from Government High School, Narayanapura, enthralled the audience with Dollu Kunitha.
In the afternoon, folk dances by students of Poornapragna High School and Vijaya High School, patriotic songs by Athreya High School and a Bharathnatyam performance by students of Carmel High School won applause from the audience.
However, the highlight of the show was a light music performance by visually challenged artistes from IDL Foundation, Bangalore. They presented popular patriotic and film songs and sang numbers on request as the audience egged them on with applause.
Housing Minister M H Ambareesh, who is in-charge minister of the district, was to inaugurate the evening programmes . Mandya MP Ramya was expected to open a light and sound show at the waterfalls at the same time.
Malavalli MLA P M Narendra Swamy, deputy commissioner B N Krishnaiah, superintendent of police Bhushan G Borase and other officials were present at the festival.
Thousands of people from across the country thronged the specially-illuminated Gaganachukki Waterfalls to get a glimpse of the Cauvery river.
Arrangements in Place
Malavalli tahsildar, Rajesh, said that local authorities had restricted the flow of additional river water from the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir to the area to 5,000 cusecs in view of the festival.
Rajesh added that arrangements had been made to provide food to both tourists as well as people participating in various programmes at the festival.
Moreover, police personnel, ambulances and fire engines were on standby to respond to any emergencies.