The Hindu Business Line : Karavali Utsav in Dakshina Kannada

CULTURAL events, regional language film festival and beach festival will be the highlights of the 45-day Karavali Utsav in Dakshina Kannada. The district administration has decided to celebrate the utsav from December 1 to January 15.

Presiding over the meeting of the Karavali Utsav Celebration Committee, Mr Aravind Srivastav, Deputy Commissioner, asked the office-bearers of various sub-committees of the utsav to organise events that could attract more tourists to the district.

Apart from organising cultural festivals in Bantwal, Belthangady, Puttur and Sullia taluks, there will be special cultural programmes at "Savira Kambada Basadi" at Moodbidri in the district.

As regional language film festival will be a part of the utsav, the Deputy Commissioner asked the officials of the departments concerned to take steps to screen Kannada, Tulu, Konkani and Kodava films at various cinemas in the district from January 3 to 5.

Kite-flying contest and boat race would be included in the beach festival to be held at Panambur.

He said artistes of national and international fame are likely to perform at Mangala stadium during the 45-day period.

Participating in another meeting on tourism development, he said that development of tourist centres should be taken up as part of the utsav. He suggested the officials to set up signboards, with information on tourist spots of the district, at airport and bus-stands.

Steps have been taken for the development of some beaches along Dakshina Kannada coast, he added.

The Mangalore MLA, Mr Yogish Bhat, who participated in the meeting, said that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation should begin package tours to tourist sites in the district during the utsav.