Date:22/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112251130200.htm

Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad

Dharwad Utsav off to a colourful start

Staff Correspondent

Grand procession taken out before inaugural ceremony

GRAND START: A procession was taken out from the R.N. Shetty Stadium in Dharwad on Friday to mark Dharwad Zilla Utsav.

DHARWAD: The annual Dharwad Zilla Utsav began on a colourful note here on Friday with folk artistes and women carrying “poornakumbha” and schoolchildren participating in the procession that preceded the formal inauguration of the utsav.

After Large and Medium Industries and district-in-charge Minister Murugesh Nirani flagged off the procession at R.N. Shetty Stadium, it took more than two hours for the procession to reach the venue of the inaugural ceremony, Karnatak College Ground.

The procession comprising folk artistes and schoolchildren dressed in colourful attires, provided a glimpse of the things to come in the next two days of the three-day cultural extravaganza.

As the procession started moving slowly, slogans in praise of Goddess Bhuavaneshwari were raised by the participants amid the music played by the folk artistes using traditional instruments. NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides also took part in the procession.

The procession passed through the Jubilee Circle, Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha, Subhas Road, Gandhi Chowk, and Kamanakatti before completing the 4-km route to reach Karnatak College Ground.

A large number of people gathered on either side of the road to watch the performances by the folk troupes who presented Karadi Majalu, Jaggalige, Maragala Kunita, Mukhavada Kunita, Kani Vadana, Janj Mela, Dollu Kunita, Goravara Kunita, Lambani Nrutya, Kudure Kunita, Puravantike and Kolata.

Tableaux

The tableaux on various issues, including the one on the classical language status accorded to Kannada language, attracted many.

Episodes from the history of Dharwad and Karnataka, mythological and historical persons, writers of the district, new farming methods and rainwater harvesting were some of the themes for the tableaux.

Chairman of the Legislative Council Viranna Mattikatti, MLAs Chandrakant Bellad, Seema Masuti, MLC Mohan Limbikai and Deputy Commissioner Darpan Jain were present at the start of the procession and some among them covered the entire route of the procession on foot.