Stage set for three-day Dharwad utsav

Soon after Diwali, another festival of celebrations is set to hit Dharwad district. The onset of winter will be enjoyable for them with the three-day Dharwad Jilla Utsav beginning November 16 offering a cultural feast.

For those who witnessed the Dharwad Jilla Utsav last year, the expectations are high this time. Deputy commissioner MS Srikar who took the initiative in organising the festival last year after a gap of several years is encouraged by the tremendous response.

Like last year, this year too he has taken the well-meaning citizens and artists of the region into confidence and with their cooperation has planned a grand festival. Several committees have been set up to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.

The festival will be on a larger scale this time with 20 venues being chosen for staging the events in Hubli and Dharwad besides Kundgol.

Music, dance, theatre, film festival, painting, sculpture, folk art, seminars on theatre and literature and poetry sessions will for part of the festival.

Over 2,000 artists, most of them locals, will exhibit their talents and expose the rich heritage of the region. The new attractions are Sufi music, qawwali and mushaira sessions.

The Karnatak College ground is a perfect venue for the events in the backdrop of the imposing main building that will be illuminated and the inaugural function will be held there with noted musicians Saleem Bhatt, Praveen Godkhindi and Abhijit Phankar providing the fusion.

The valedictory will be at Siddarudhmath in Hubli. A procession by school and college students on the first day will herald the commencement of the festival. There will be no entry fee for those attending the events at the festival.

Flute maestro Hariprasad Chourasia, and Vishwa Mohan Bhat of Mohan Veena fame will enthrall the audience at the festival. Vocalists Tejendra Narayan Mujumdar and Gundecha brothers will add fervor to the festival with their recitals.

A film festival is being introduced for the first time where award winning films will be screened at Srujana Ranga Mandira and Bendre Bhavan in Dharwad. Two films will be screened on each day for two days.

Kundagol, the place that produced Hindustani maestros like Bhimsen Joshi and Gangubai Hangal will be part of the festival and will host a musical evening.

Noted writer and Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad who hails from Dharwad will participate in the national seminar on 'Indian Theatre Today' to be held on November 17.

Satyadev Dubey and Panikkar are among the other participants. Another seminar on 'Recent Trends in Kannada Literature' will be held on November 18. 'Sopanam' theatre troupe from Kerala will stage a Sanskrit play.

The events will be held at all the 20 venues simultaneously.