Mysuru : Festive mood has descended on the cultural city which is decked up to host the 83rd Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana after a gap of 27 years, from 24 November 2017.
Around 5,000 writers and 10,893 delegates have already registered their names, confirming their participation.
Other delegates from across the State and Kannadigas living in other states and abroad are expected to participate in the three-day literary festival, which begins on November 24.
The district administration has already declared 2-day holiday for schools and colleges in the district, starting November 24 to facilitate students and teachers to take part in the fest.
A large stage replicating a “Durbar” has been erected on the Maharaja College Grounds and named after Rashtrakavi Kuvempu. The entire venue that can accommodate 25000 people has been christened as Rajarishi Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Mahamantapa. The main entrance of the venue has been named as Sri Malai Mahadeshwara Mahadwara. The theme of the Durbar Hall for the main stage was decided by a committee with the design representing a rich heritage.
Over 200 stalls for hosting book exhibition and an equal number of stalls for other activities have also come up next to the main venue. Food stalls will function at multiple venues — Scouts and Guides Grounds, Sports Pavilion, and Football Grounds, all of them located close to the main venue — to cater to delegates, VIPs, media, and the public.
Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Manu Baligar who went round the venues, monitoring the progress of preparations for the literary festival said more than 30 senior literary personalities including Jnanpith awardee Chandrashekar Kambar, had been personally requested to participate in the Sammelana and share their views. Kambar has consented to participate, he added.
Baligar complimented the district administration for enhancing the seating capacity and also food counters which would facilitate bigger participation. Compared to the previous sammelanas, the Mysuru meet will be hosting more sessions, he said, adding that a session on transgenders had been introduced for the first time in the Kannada meet.
According to Publicity Committee Chairman H A Venkatesh, special counters would operate from 8.30 AM to 6.30 PM at the main venue on November 24 for the registration of delegates. Separate counters will function for the registration of delegates from 30 districts and kits will also be distributed to them.
Mayor M J Ravi Kumar, who heads the procession committee, said Sammelana President Chandrashekar Patil would be brought in a grand procession on the main streets of the city to the main venue.
The district administration is likely to spend Rs 10 Crore on organising the Sammelana. While the government had promised Rs 8 Crore, the Sahitya Parishat had released Rs 1 Crore for hosting the event.
