Nandi Utsav to be held in May

It had been put off due to some unavoidable reasons

The utsav was supposed to be held on August 23 last year coinciding with the formation day of the district. Some unavoidable reasons had forced the district administration to put it off. This year it will be held at the Bhoganandeeshwara temple premises in Nandi village.

A preparatory meeting was held on Thursday at the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore on holding the Utsav this year. Discussion were held on the date and place of holding the festival and names of the guests to be invited. A detailed programme schedule was also prepared at the meeting. It was decided to hold the festival for three days. Another meeting will be held soon to finalise the schedule.

Had everything gone as per the plan, the Nandi Utsav was supposed to be held on August 23 last year. But, at the last minute, the district administration had postponed it inviting the wrath of various associations and institutions. Sensing trouble, the district administration had not conducted any programme on the formation day of the district.

Avoided visiting
The then district incharge minister Prof Mumtaz Ali Khan had avoided visiting Chikkaballapur on that day. Whereas MLA K P Bache Gowda was in Gujarat on some official work, Superintendent of Police D T Pawar had gone to Mussorie for a training.
Dr Manjula, who had assumed office as the Deputy Commissioner a few days ago was also out of town on the formation day. In an effort to pacify the people of the district, Khan had held three round of talks on holding the festival later. He had invited suggestions from Kannada and cultural organisations and experts.

A few committees were also formed to oversee the festival affairs. However, the chief minister’s inability to participate in the festival had forced the organisers to put off the festival once again.

On Thursday, the meeting chaired by the district incharge minister Shobha Karandlaje chalked out programmes of the Utsav.

Bache Gowda told Deccan Herald that the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is expected to participate in the Nandi Utsav.Chintamani MLA Dr M C Sudhakar, Gauribidanur MLA Shivashankar Reddy, Zilla Panchayat President Chinnappaiah, Vice President B Savitramma and others had participated in the meeting.