Mangaluru: Thousands of school students from across Dakshina Kannada and outside were treated to a delight at the Makkala Habba organized by the District Administration at Dr. Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama on Saturday, November 21.
The event is being held in commemoration of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s 125th birth anniversary.
National award winner Panchami Maroor inaugurated the event by releasing balloons into the air. About 2,000 children, who donned outfits of national leaders and freedom fighters, took part in a colourful procession from the entrance arch to the zoo circle.
District In-charge Minister Ramanath Rai, Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Fisheries Abhayachandra Jain, district Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, Executive Director of Pilikula Nisargadhama Prabhakar Sharma, Director Jayaprakash Bhandary, Regional Science Centre Director Dr KV Rao, district Forest Officer Clifford lobo and Sr Sonal were present among others for the stage programme.
Cultural programmes were held at three venues simultaneously throughout the day.
Children clicked selfies in front of Taj Mahal, Mysore Palace, Statue of Liberty and other historical places whose replica have been erected. They also participated in treasure hunt, quiz, robotic and automation, origami, mask making, kite making events.
District Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim said that though the Makka Habba was planned to be held on Children’s Day, the event had to be postponed due to untoward incidents in the district. “The participation of children, parents, guides and teachers in such a large number has proven that we all stand united,” he said hoping that the turnout of children on Sunday too would be high.
About 43,000 students participated in the Habba on Saturday, out of which 22,000 children and 7,000 teachers were from Dakshina Kannada. About 9,000 students and 5,000 elders were outsiders, a release from the District Administration stated.
The festival will be open till Sunday evening.
