JOIN USOn Sunday, people set out for Rain Fest organised by district administration and Pilikula Nisargadhama at Urban Haat in Pilikula.
Although rain seemed to be playing hide and seek, events such as ‘umbrella decorating competition’ and ‘rural games’ held aloft the spirit of the fest.
Inaugurating the rain fest by painting a design on an umbrella, theatre and film actor Navin D Padil said that the fest had provided an opportunity for people to re-witness the good old monsoon days of Tulunadu, which was buzzing with agricultural activities. He lamented that the current scene was completely different and the fields had been replaced by concrete jungles. “In this situation, Pilikula is a relief,” he said and added that the Nisargadhama was an asset to the district. Navin also requested the deputy commissioner to rejuvenate Kadri Park and Tagore Park in the City.
Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim inaugurated the rural games competition, by playing 'Jibili'. He said through the rain fest, Pilikula Nisargadhama had made efforts to reach out to more number of people.
A monsoon photography exhibition was inaugurated by noted photojournalist Keshav Vittal. The exhibition displayed photographs captured by Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade, press photographers Govindraj Javali, Ramakrishna Marati, G K Hegde, Bhaskar Amtoor, Apul Ira and others.
At the umbrella decorating competition, Nafisa Adoor, a class nine student of Lourdes High School, Bejai, designed an umbrella on the theme ‘Incredible India,’ depicting images of various monuments and flora-fauna of the country. Her mother Sauda Ibrahim decorated an umbrella with flowers and creepers. Neha B, a B Tech student from NITK, painted a magnificent peacock on an umbrella.
Among the designed umbrellas, Rajasthani wedding umbrella, umbrella with designs created out of ragi and sooji and those decorated with betel leaves and areca nuts, stole the attention of the crowd.
Around 100 saplings were planted in and around the Urban Haat by Mangaluru Rotary Club, HPCL, Hindustan Unilever and Corporation Bank.
Expo and sale
Fresh water fishes were put up for sale by Karnataka Fish Development Corporation. There were fishes like Pangasius (cat fish), Mackerel and others whose prices ranged from Rs 80 to Rs 230 per kg. KFDC Managing Director V K Shetty said the sale of cage cultured Pangasius fish is being introduced in Mangaluru for the first time. The fish, which was cage cultured in the backwaters of Krishnarajasagar (KRS dam) in Mysuru, were transported overnight to Mangaluru. In a nearby stall put up by the corporation, items like 'Anjal fry', 'fish kabab', 'prawns fry,' 'crab claws,’ and others were sold.
Agricultural and gardening equipment, organically grown vegetables etc., were displayed as part of the exhibition. Household items used in older days in Tulunadu were also on display.