The Hindu : Koujalagi to open fair at Siddaganga Math

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 16, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Koujalagi to open fair at Siddaganga Math

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR FEB. 15. The Minister for Agriculture, V.S.Koujalagi, will inaugurate the 40th Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition at Sri Siddaganga Math, near here, on Wednesday. The Minister for Higher Education, G.Parameshwar, will preside over the function.

B.Gangadharaiah, Secretary of the math, told presspersons here on Saturday that the 15-day exhibition was organised as part of the Siddalingeswara Swami Jatra and Cattle Fair held in the run up to Mahashivaratri every year.

Prof. Gangadharaiah said Gosala Siddeswara founded the math 600 years ago. Atavi Swami introduced social service in the math by launching "dasohakam" (free feeding). His successor, Uddhana Sivayogi, began the jatra in 1905, and founded educational institutions in 1917. Over 2.25 lakh children studied in the math's 122 institutions. Of these, 8,000 were destitute who were given free food and shelter.

He said the Old Boys' Association of the math, which was formed in 1954, had been organising the exhibition since 1964, to create awareness among farmers who congregated at the jatra. Against 45,000 pairs of bullocks, which used to gather for the cattle fair in the past, only 15,000 pairs were expected this year. Each of the 19 utsavs would be witnessed by 20,000 people and the gathering would be large for the Rath Utsav on March 2 and on the next night for "Belli Pallakki".

Stating that the Centre had opened four stalls in the exhibition, the State Government 35, and the private companies about 100, Prof. Gangadharaiah said 50 more stalls would be opened soon. An amusement park for children, entertainment centres and fruit and condiment stores would be set up. Well-known artistes would present cultural programs in the evenings.

Presenting a preview of the exhibition to presspersons, he said built-in sheds in six sizes were provided to the stallholders. Centralised lighting facility was offered.

However, the Agriculture and Forest departments were given big plots to raise green backdrops for their stalls. He said entry fee was subsidised for schoolchildren and teachers.

The spokesman of the math, M.Renuka Aradhya, said farmers brought their bullocks to the fair a few days earlier than it began to catch up with good prices, and they would leave in the middle.

Such desertions would mar the beauty of utsavs. He appealed to farmers to assemble here on or after February 20 and leave the math only after March 4. Mr. Aradhya said arrangements would be made to insure cattle during the fair.

The Joint Secretaries of the math, S.Shivakumar and S.Gangadharaiah, and the Convenor of Cultural Programs, K.B.Renukaiah, were present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

'Order on water release will be obeyed'

Koujalagi to open fair at Siddaganga Math

2 students from Mysore drowned in Cauvery

Drought triggers migration

Attend to relief work, officials told

Hassan ZP President resigns

Govt. stops pension to ailing sculptor

'Ram temple issue not negotiable'

New economy anti-labour: CITU leader