Mangaluru, June 15: Mangaluru district administration celebrated the “Rain Fest” – the first of its kind, in a unique way at Pilikula here on Sunday, June 14th.
The event included many specialities of the rainy season although there were no traces of rain on the day.
Theatre artist Naveen D Padil formally inaugurated the event by knitting the coconut leaves.
Speaking on this occasion, he lauded the Deputy Commissioner Adoor B Ibrahim for organizing the event. He also wished that many more such kind of programmes be organized in Pilikula in future.
The guests were welcomed in a unique manner by singing ballad “O Bele” song and providing the drink -“Ginger Kashayam”.
Umbrella Illusion Magic:
Special attraction of the event was “Umbrella illusion Magic”. The umbrella decoration competition was also organized on this occasion. Antique and new umbrella models were also showcased on this occasion.
The Deputy Commissioner Ibrahim himself had brought a quite attractive umbrella to the venue. Folk art on the umbrellas, on spot paintings on umbrellas, umbrella expo-cum sale was also organized. Prizes were given to attractive umbrellas.
Photography expo related to the rain was also organized at the venue. Renowned Photographer Keshava Vitla inaugurated the event. The photography collections of Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Keshava Vitla, Sudhakara Yermal, Apul Ira, G K Hegde, Govindraj Javali, Bhaskara Amtur were exhibited on this occasion.
Folk songs and dance, knitting the coconut leaves, Lagori, Kutti Donne, Jubili aata, happala made out of jackfruit, yummy delicacies prepared on spot, pathrode, tajank vade, dosa prepared out of jackfruit, rasayana, jackfruit payasa, and sale of fresh fishes by the Karnataka Fisheries Development Board, Jackfruit desert, local non-vegetarian dishes, ice-creams, variety yummy snacks, toys, rain related information’s, etc were part of the event.
Paper boat game:
Long ago, in the rainy season, the children used to enjoy floating their paper boats during rainy season. To cherish those memories, provision were made for the children to float their paper boats in pond filled with rain water.
In the rain fest, umbrella procession along with band, folk songs by Jhenkara Gaana Kala Kendra of Mangaluru, mimicry by Swaroopa Adyayana Kendra, Kolata entertained the audience.
The exhibition and sale of various plants such as gooseberry, soap-nuts, champakam, saguvani, neem, renje, bakula, holedasavala, nerala, marugalu, cocum (punarpuli) and bilva, organized by the forest department were also the centre of attraction.
Although the nisargadhama was opened twenty years ago in
Pilikula, the people of the district have not turned up towards this place. The reason for this is not yet known. But now the district administration intends to make this as tourist spot. Already three fests have been organized here. In July, “Aatidonji Dina” will be organized here. Plans are on to organize a fest every month here throughout the year, informed the Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim on this occasion.
During the event, Additional DC Sadashiva Prabhu, Project director of Pilikula Nisargadhama- SA Prabhakar Sahrma, Dr KV Rao of Pilikula Nisargadhama Science Centre, Yathish Baikampady of Panambur Beach Development Authority, Director of Pilikula National Park- Jayaprakash Bhandary, member of Pilikula Society N G Mohan, MUDA Commissioner Mohammed Nazir, joint Director of Agricultural Department- Kempegowda, President of Konkani Academy Richard Castelino, Writer- Dundiraj, Ganesh of Corporation Bank, President of Dakshina Kannada KASAPA- Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, Gopadkar of Swaroop Adyayana Kendra and others were present.
