Traditional welcome awaits at 'Guthu Mane' stage

Over 5,000 participants to take part in inaugural programme of NYF

The youth and delegates coming to Mangalore from various parts of the country to take part in National Youth Festival will have a glimpse of  ‘manors of the Coast’ with the mammoth stage of NYF at Mangala Stadium flaunting the look of a Tulunadu ‘Guthu Mane’ Chavadi as its theme.

A typical Guthu Mane Chavadi was the seat of the landlord families where the people would come together for various reasons- from casual chats to seeking help. But on Thursday, the temporarily replicated Chavadi will have dignitaries flagging off the historic Youth Festival being held for the first time in the State.

Designed under the meticulous and expert eyes of Alva’s Education Trust Chairman Dr Mohan Alva, the stage will have symbolic representations of local cultural aspects like the crown of Yakshagana etc. The stage will have the typical pillars found in Guthu houses along with the palatial doors with intricate design, straight from the enviable collection of antiques of Dr Alva.

It is said that each of these doors would conveniently cost about  Rs 1.5 lakh each.

The stage will adorn ‘Shilabalikas’ on Hampi model. Apart from this, the stage will have intricate decorations using paddy and tender arecanuts, especially on the bordering of the stage.

Stage size

The stage will be about 160 feet in width, 60 ft in length and 35 ft high from the ground. The stage has been designed in such a way that there is absolutely no obstacle between the audience and the artists on stage.

There are two green rooms, one VIP room, one room to stock belongings.
Media centre has been put up on one of the stage, which has 30 computers with broadband and other facilities.

Seating

The organisers are anticipating about 10,000 audiences including the participants.
Likewise, 4,000 ordinary plastic chairs have been put at the venue systematically at the outer most zone.

Rest will be seated on the stadium stairs, which can accommodate about 7,000 people.

A total of 2,000 chairs have been put exclusively for participants, 1,000 chairs for officers, 200 chairs for media persons and 1,500 VIP and VVIP couches.

The entire stage, lighting and sound contract has been estimated at Rs 48 lakh.
DH News Service