Colours of Kannada set to unravel at cultural capital

The state's 'cultural capital' is all set for the Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana after a gap of 26 years. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the three-day, state-sponsored 83rd Sahitya Sammelana at the Maharaja's College Grounds at 11 am on Friday.

Writer Chandrashekar Patil, popularly known as 'Champa,' will preside over the Sammelana, while PWD and district incharge Minister H C Mahadevappa will deliver the welcome speech. Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) president Manu Baligar will deliver the keynote address and president of the 82nd Kannada Sahitya Sammelana Baragur Ramachandrappa will address the gathering.

Earlier in the day, Sammelana president Champa will be taken out in a procession from the Kote Anjaneya Swami temple to the programme venue. Thousands of school students, women and a host of dignitaries will be part of the procession.

Zilla Panchayat president Nayeema Sultana will flag off the procession in front of the temple at 9 am. Police Commissioner Dr A S Rao, Deputy Commissioner D Randeep, ZP chief executive officer P Shivashankara, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner G Jagadeesha and Superintendent of Police Ravi D Channannavar will be the chief guests for the procession.

The flag-hoisting programme has been scheduled at the Grounds at 8.30 am. While Minister Mahadevappa will hoist the national flag, KSP president Manu Baligar will unfurl the KSP flag and Mysuru district KSP president Dr Y D Rajanna will hoist the Kannada flag.

Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree will inaugurate the cultural events. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar will release a souvenir. While Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait will inaugurate the book stalls, Minister for Small Scale Industries and Sugar M C Mohana Kumari will release books published by the KSP. MP Pratap Simha will release books authored by various writers. Deputy chairman of the Legislative Council Marithibbegowda will inaugurate the art expo.

During the inaugural ceremony, Chamarajanagar MP R Dhruvanarayan will inaugurate the commercial stalls and Mayor M J Ravikumar will unveil a 'mantap'. Mandya MP C S Puttaraju will inaugurate the main entrance of the event venue.

Kannada and Culture director N R Vishukumar will attend the event.