Mangalore, November 22: Despite the inconsistent weather and stifling heat, Mangaloreans have a reason to cheer this weekend, thanks to the 'Ullal Beach Festival 2012' being organised on November 24 and 25 by Maruthi Yuvaka Mandala, Ullal, on part of their silver jubilee year celebrations.
Addressing media persons at a press conference here, Bharath Kumar, President of Maruthi Yuvaka Mandala (MYM) Silver Jubilee Committee and Ullal Beach Festival Committee, said that during the two-day festival, there will be an array of activities for the public such as beach throw-ball and kabaddi competitions, kite show, painting exhibition by the renowned artist Vilas Nayak (on November 24), sand art, boat race, swimming, fishing and dance competitions (on November 25 ), along with water sports, auto expo, amusement rides and food festival.
The highlight of the event will be performance by renowned background singer Vijay Prakash of 'Jai Ho' fame on Saturday at 6.30 p.m. and dance performance by Jennifer Kotwal of 'Jogi' fame and mimicry by comedian Tennis Krishna on Sunday evening, he said.
The beach festival will be inaugurated by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on Saturday.
Bharath Kumar said that various persons would be felicitated at the cultural programme on Saturday. 'Maruthi Sadhaka Prashasthi' will be given to Salumarada Thimmakka, Harekala Hajabba and Ullal Mohan Kumar, while artist Vilas Nayak, Karnataka state cricketer Nihal Ullal and agriculturist Pratibha Shetty will be awarded 'Maruthi Yuva Prashasthi'.
Newly-built school
On the occasion, the Mandala will be handing over a new school building built at the cost of Rs 1.22 crore, to the Government Aided Mogaveera Higher Primary School at Ullal.
A year ago, the Mandala had initiated the project of a new two-storey building for the school, an alma mater to the committee members of the Mandala, as part of their wide-ranging social service activities. The new building will be inaugurated on Saturday at 5 p.m. by Jagadeesh Boloor, Managing Director of Yojaka Pvt Ltd, and P P Upadhya, Managing Director of MRPL, Mangalore. The school name will be unveiled by Dr G Shankar, Chairman of G Shankar Family Trust, Udupi.
The construction of the building began with the budget of Rs 45 lakhs, but the total expense incurred, along with the cost of furniture is Rs 1.22 crore. ONGC-MRPL has come forward to donate 25 lakhs to the requirements of the upper level. There are other sponsors who have donated as much as three lakhs to the project. Mangalore MLA U T Khader himself donated Rs 1.8 lakhs for the project and Rs 1.5 lakhs were granted from the Local Development Fund, facilitated by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, he said.
He said that the budget for beach festival was 30 lakhs, out of which the members of the Mandal had donated 20 lakhs altogether. “We did not receive any funding from the government. No entry fees will be collected from the participants for any of the competitions,” he said.
Parking facilities for two-wheelers and four-wheelers will be arranged for the convenience of visitors, with the help of Ullal Inspector Madan Gaonkar. Around 30 experienced life-guards will be present during the beach festival. Around one lakh people or more are expected to participate in the mega festival, he said.
Sandeep Puthran, president of MYM and Rajesh Bangera, public relation officer (prachara sanchalaka) for the event, were present at the press conference.
Thanks to the event, the stretch of road from Rani Abbakka Circle to Mogaveerpatna, which had been in a bad condition, is also being done up.
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