50-day Udupi Utsava from December 8

The Hindu

Programmes include plays, folk dance, amusement for children and beach volleyball

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• Beach Utsava on January 29 and 30 at Malpe
• CMC expects to raise Rs. 10 lakh through advertisements

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Gearing up: Amusement equipment for Udupi Utsava being installed at the MGM College Grounds on Monday

 

Udupi, 23 November 2010: People of Udupi will be treated to a cultural bonanza, a mega exhibition and various types of amusement during the 50-day “Udupi Utsava” to be held from December 8 to January 30.

 

The utsava will be held at A.L.N. Rao Grounds (MGM College Grounds) here to mark the valedictory of the platinum jubilee of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC).

 

CMC Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak told The Hindu on Monday that a cultural function would be held every day.

 

While local troupes would stage Tulu and Kannada plays, folk dances, Yakshagana and Makkala Yakshagana (children’s Yakshagana) during the weekdays.

 

On the weekends, artistes from outside the district will perform at the utsava.

 

A stage and seating arrangements for 3,000 will be arranged at the venue.

 

“The CMC holds talks with well-known Kannada and others singers to perform at the Utsava,” he said.

 

For the children, there would be various amusements — “Giant Wheel”, “Helicopter” and “Train”. Around 150 stalls would be put up at the exhibition.

 

These stalls will be both commercial and informative. The stalls will be put up in collaboration with the National Consumer Fair (NCF), Bangalore.

 

Of the 150 stalls, 50 will be left for the CMC.

 

There will be an entry fee of Rs. 20 a person to the utsav venue.

 

The money from the entry fee would be shared equally by the CMC and NCF.

 

“We are expecting that a minimum of two lakh people will visit the Utsava. This would generate a revenue of Rs. 40 lakh, which will be used to fund the cultural programmes,” said Mr. Nayak.

 

Besides, the CMC expects to raise Rs. 10 lakh from advertisement banners which will be displayed on the way to venue and at the venue.

 

A major highlight of the Udupi Utsava would be a two-day “Beach Utsava” to be held at the Malpe beach on January 29 and 30.

 

Kite competition, beach volleyball and beach Kabbadi would be held at Malpe. Sea Food Festival will be organised to tingle the taste buds of sea food lovers.