SHRAVANABELAGOLA:Preparations are on in full swing for the 81st Kannada Sahitya Sammelana at Shravanabelagola. The three-day literary meet, scheduled to be held from February 1 is expected to attract thousands of Kannada literature lovers from across the State.
Construction of an accommodation space measuring 300 ft x 500 ft is on. A stage measuring 80 ft x 40 ft is being set up. Separate stalls are being put up for food items in an open field behind Vindhyagiri where there is a 58-foot monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara. Seating arrangements are made for 20,000 people in the pandal and over 100 dignitaries can share the dais.
A separate pandal adjacent to the main stage is being put up to accommodate 600 book stalls. Food for visitors will be prepared in 10 kitchens. Kannada Sahitya Parishat, which is organising the meet, has decided to serve Mysuru and Dakshina Kannada cuisines.The Parishat has selected 30 cultural and folklore troupes that will participate in the Sammelana president Siddalingaiah’s procession. For the first time, it has decided to take the president of the meet in a decorated bullock cart.
Plastic-free zone
The Parishat has decided to not allow the use of plastic at the meet. This time, the organisers are planning to give copra and jaggery to the guests, dignitaries and the facilitators instead of giving bouquets. Over 8,000 delegates have registered their names and steps are being taken to provide lodging for 9,000 people.
It has already booked lodges and guest houses in Shravanabelagola, Channarayapatna, Bellur Cross and Hassan.
Music bonanza
The Parishat has booked noted artistes and singers, including Pravin Ghodkhindi, Sangeeta Katti, PrakashRai, Hamsalekha, Janni, Appagere Thimmaraju, Bananduru Kempaiah, Kikkeri Krishnamurthy, Shivamogga Subbanna, B K Sumitra, Archana Udupa and Mandya Ramesh for cultural programmes. The Parishat’s president Pundalika Halambi said all efforts are being made to make the literary meet a memorable one.
Publicity Vehicle
Chief executive officer of the Zilla Panchayat Upendra Pratap Singh inaugurated the publicity vehicle of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat on Sunday. The vehicle will be used for publicising the meet. Singh urged the organisers to take the vehicle to rural areas to publicise the conference. The vehicle will tour the district till the meet concludes.