A festive spirit coarsed through Mysuru on Friday as literature enthusiasts, avid readers and Kannada activists from all over the state descended on the city to take part in the 83rd Akhila Kannada Sahitya Sammelana celebrations.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the three-day festival at the Maharaja’s College Grounds at 11 am. The main stage of the event was designed along the lines of the Mysuru Palace Durbar Hall.
The festival which is hosted by a different town each year on a rotational basis returned to Mysuru for the first time since 1990, after a gap of 27 years.
Kannada Sahitya Sammelana President and poet Chandrashekar Patil and his wife were taken in a procession on a silver chariot to the main Sammelana venue accompanied by Manu Baligar, Kannada Sahitya Parishat President.
The five km long procession was made up of a large number of enthusiasts carrying Karnataka flags and were joined by cultural troupes adding a touch of flair to the proceedings.
Three flags - the national flag, the state flag and the Karnataka Sahitya Parishat flag - were unfurled at the entrance of the main venue. Students from nearby schools and colleges joined literary enthusiasts gathered for the inauguration ceremony. Over 1000 women activists also graced the event.
The Kannada Sahitya Parishat, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of Kannada, hosts the event annually. Manu Baligar revealed that discussions would be held around topics including agriculture, irrigation, youth, children, women, sexual minorities, oppressed classes and even the media.
A large number of Kannada enthusiasts carrying Kannada flags, and folk and cultural troupes joined the procession, adding grandeur to the 5-km long procession.The festivities are set to continue till Sunday.