Literary buffs set to descend on Dharwad for Sammelana

Dharwad, which has carved a niche for itself in the field of education, culture, art and music, is all set to pull the Kannada chariot. The city is wearing a bridal look to greet over two lakh literature lovers coming here to take part in the event which begins on January 4.

As the fest is being held in Dharwad after a gap of six decades, the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) and the district administration have left no stone unturned to make this a people’s festival. The entire city is painted in red and yellow, symbolising the Kannada flag. The government buildings and important circles have been decorated with colourful lights.

The compound walls of buildings all along the procession route have been given an artistic look with portraits of eminent writers and Kannada slogans painted on them.

The KSP has planned a 5-km-long procession of Chandrashekara Kambara, the Sammelana president, in a specially decorated chariot on January 4 from the prestigious Karnatak Arts College.

A total of 1,001 women will carry ‘poornakumbha’ on their heads and lead the procession. As many as 55 folk art teams and 15 tableaux will be part of the procession.

The main stage has been erected at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) grounds and seating arrangements have been made for 50,000 people. Already 15,600 participants have registered their names.

The district administration has booked 35 hotels in Dharwad and 45 hotels in Hubballi besides 87 government hostels, 35 kalyan mantaps, 14 paying guest homes and 18 residential schools to provide accommodation.

To help people coming from other parts of the state, help desks have been set up at bus stands and railway stations. As many as 500 books stalls by leading publishers have been set up at the venue. Four stalls have been set up by the KSP, displaying the works of Kambara.

To provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to the delegates, 140 food counters will be opened and over 2,400 chefs have been hired to prepare food.

The visitors will get a chance to taste the ethnic dishes of North Karnataka. Over two lakh jowar rotis have already reached the
city. The KSP has made elaborate arrangements to hold 250 cultural programmes over three days, from 6 pm to 10 pm.

The Sammelana will be inaugurated by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy at 11.30 am on January 4. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, ministers Jayamala and R V Deshpande, past-immediate president Prof Chandrashekar Patil and others will be the chief guests.

The valedictory will be held at 6 pm on January 6. Coalition co-ordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah and Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda will be the chief guests.