The countdown for the Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan has begun and the temple town is gearing up to welcome litterateurs and writers from different parts of the country. 
Speaking to the mediapersons, reception committee general secretary Uppunda Chandrashekar Holla said the inaugural ceremony  will be held at 12.45 pm on December 12. At least 20 tableaux and 30 cultural troupes will be part of the procession, he added. Mr Holla said Dharmasthala temple has agreed to pick up one-day expenditure bill,  while Kollur ( Rs 9 lakh), Krishna Matth (Rs 8 lakh) Anegudde, Ambalpadi and Mandharthi temples (Rs 3 lakh each),  and Kadiyali temple ( Rs 1.5 lakh) have donated amounts. 300 cooks will be on duty to prepare food for delegates coming for the conference.  All the choultries and schools in the city have been booked for the guests, he said.