JOIN USThe entire Shravanabelagola town which has been decorated with buntings and Kannada flags aflutter, is all set to host the 81st Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, to be formally launched from February 1.
Final touches are being given to the preparations for the festival, and as a prerequisite to the literary meet, Siddalingaiah, President of the convention, will be taken out on a procession on a bullock cart on January 31.
The procession will begin from the guest house and will proceed to the dais situated at a distance of 2.5 km. The bullocks belong to Chandranna of Uttenahalii, which he purchased at Rs 2.5 lakh.
As many as 81 troupes of artistes will participate in the procession to mark the 81st convention.
Last minute arrangements are being made to the meet at the dais measuring 40 x 80 ft. Seating arrangements have been made to accommodate 15,000 people. The dais has sculptures of Belur in the backdrop. While the left side has Gommateshwara, the right side has the cut out of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. There are also book stalls, a huge kitchen and dining halls.
Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami of Shravanabelagola who oversaw the preparations has expressed happiness over the completion of works on time.
Deputy Commissioner Umesh Kusugal will flag off the procession to begin at 4 pm on Saturday.