Udupi: Foreign Cultures land for Festival in St. Mary’s Island

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 04 February 2012: At last the foreign cultures have landed to Udupi for the Island Festival which began on Friday. District administration has said that this program is organized to development tourism of the district. A private organization has organized this fun filled 3 days long festival in the nature’s wonder St. Mary’s island from Friday to Sunday and it is said to introduce the local culture to the foreigners.
 
The district administration has given permission to serve liquors here and there are tents built to provide shelter to the tourists of outer states and the foreigners. The gala event is witnessing the downpour of tourists from many countries and the island is crowded with visitors never like before. There is provision for music and dance whole night and the foreigners are charged Rs. 5,000 per head.

 

 
Various local traditional folk dance and music programmes such as ‘Pooja kunita,’ ‘Kangeelu nritya,’ ‘Veeragase nritya,’ ‘Varava nritya,’ ‘Jogate kunita,’ ‘Chennu kunita,’ ‘Gorava kunita,’ ‘Tamate mathu nagari mela,’ ‘Dollu kunita’ and ‘Halakki gowdara suggi kunita’ were arranged. Besides this, more than 30 international DJs and 30 bands across the globe are taking part in this event.
 
On the first day about 500 couples participated in this event and more 1,000 couples are expected to join on Saturday and Sunday. The fest is open to all including the local people with the entry fee charged by the organizers. The best international bands will be coming here during these three days. Following the results of this event, the district administration will decide whether to allow it to happen next year in Udupi or not.
 
Speaking on this event Deputy Commissioner Dr. M.T. Reju has said that this program has been arranged to promote tourism in the district. When a private organization came forward to organize a music event like this, the permission has been given for the sake of developing the tourism of the district. From this the name of Udupi will become popular around the world. The organizers of the event will pay rupees 5 lakhs for the development of the district tourism, he said.