Samskritika Samarasya in Madikeri from today

Department of Kannada and Culture, various linguistic academies, authorities will organise ‘Sangama, Sambhrama, Samskritika Samarasya’ at Field Marshall Cariappa College premises in Madikeri on December 7 and 8. A huge stage has been built at the college premises and seating arrangements have been done for 2,500 people. Flexes and buntings have been put up. 30 stalls have been set up for the exhibition and sale of books. Guest houses across the district have been booked for the guests and artistes.

The programme is being held to mark the versatility of the culture in Kodagu and to promote the cultural exchange. There is also an intention to introduce the culture of Kodagu to other districts, the organisers said. The department of Culture had organised a similar programme ‘Vasanta Sambhrama’ in Bengaluru, two years ago. Also, following the grand success of the programme, ‘Sangama, Sambhrama-Vartamanada Tallana’ was held in Mangaluru. Now, Kodagu has got the opportunity to host the programme, which will be organised by Kodava Sahitya Academy, Arebhashe Samskriti and Sahitya Academy.

A cultural procession, to be taken out at 9.30 am, will mark the beginning of the convention. Deputy Commissioner Richard Wilson D’Souza will flag off the procession. Around 30 art troupes from Kodagu and other districts will take part. As many as 6,000 people are expected to witness the event, said Kodava Sahitya Academy chairman Biddatanda S Tammaiah.

‘Sangama, Sambhrama, Samskritika Samarasya’ will be inaugurated by Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree at 11.30 am. MLA Appacchu Ranjan will preside over the programme. District In-charge minister M R Seetaram will inaugurate the painting and sculpture exhibition.

Forest Minister B Ramanath Rai will inaugurate the book exhibition. Zilla Panchayat president B A Harish, MP Pratap Simpa, MLA K G Bopaiah, MLC M P Sunil Subramani, Veena Acchaiah and others will take part. Various academies will present cultural programmes on both the days.

Visitors will be served meals and preparations towards the same has started from Tuesday afternoon. The cooks have been preparing ‘shavige uppittu’, ‘kesari baath’, coffee, tea for the breakfast, palav, sweet dishes, ‘palya’ rice and sambar for afternoon, coffee, tea for evening, rice, palya and sambar for night—to be served to 700 people on the first day. For Thursday, poori and sagu will be on the breakfast menu and rice sambar for meals, said Arebhashe Samskriti and Sahitya Academy president Kolyada Girish.