The temple town is in festive mood and is gearing up for the 74th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana to be held at MGM College grounds. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth success of the event.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Reception Committee General Secretary Uppunda Chandrashekar Holla said, “The mantap work was 92 per cent complete and all decorations pertaining to the main stage is complete. 10 Gopuras have been named in memory of famous Kannada litterateurs and the main pandal can accommodate 20,000 people at a time.”
Basic arrangements
Over 500 bookstalls and 100 commercial stalls have been set up. Prominence has been given for lighting, drinking water and sanitary arrangements. 29 information and help centres will be manned by various District Kannada Sahitya Parishat members. Any delegate who needs assistance can contact their district centres, Holla informed.
A spacious kitchen of 12,000 sq ft is built and the visiting delegates will be treated with special Udupi delicacies. The dining hall has a seating capacity of 50,000, and two additional halls are built for the purpose. More than 3,000 NSS and Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) volunteers are involved.
About the cultural events, Mr Holla said, more than 200 programmes by 60 cultural troupes have been arranged and a parallel stage has been set up. Arrangements have been made for 150 artists from all over the State to exhibit their talent and products. KSRTC counters for package tours are also available, he added.
Medical facilities
Para-medical forces and two ambulances have been arranged and fire service brigades have also been deployed. Informing about the security arrangements, Udupi SP (In-charge) Laboo Ram said, an additional SP, two DySPs, 18 ASIs have been appointed and more than 350 police personnel, 50 home guards and 60 new recruits have been deployed.
Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Chandrashekhar Patil informed that more than a lakh people are expected to attend the event and opined that it should not only be limited to literature, but should be the venue to discuss the life of the people. Everyone who participates in this meet should gain the knowledge and have a taste of literature, he added.
A full-fledged media centre with 35 PCs and internet facilities with 30 BSNL telephone connections was inaugurated here jointly by BJP leader Somashekhar Bhatt and President, Journalists Association Udupi District Dinesh Kini, at the venue, on Tuesday. It is said litterateur Vyasaraya Ballal will not be attending the event.