Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, May 9: As Yakshagana performances have stopped, minister Kota Srinivas Poojary distributed food kits to 1800 Yakshagana artistes at Kollur temple on behalf of the Muzrai department and the endowment department. The minister said that similar kits are being distributed to 3400 priests in the temples of the endowment department.

More than seven lac meals are being provided in quarantine temples. Meals are provided to 34 thousand people in Kadri temple alone, he said.

Kollur temple executive Arvind Ayyappa, assistant executive Krishnamurthy, Udupi Yakshagana Kalaranga president Murali Kadekar, P Kishan Hegde, Ganesh Rao and others were present.

The chief minister released Rs 1600 crore aid. "There are demands to include barbers, dhobis etc in the aid packages. The department has responded positively to those who are affected by coronavirus in 110A temples and distributed 7.5 lac meals," he said.

"Photographers, musicians, tailors, fishermen, shamiyana people and those communities indulged in local crafts have requested for monetary help. I will bring the matter to the notice of the chief minister.

"Mass marriages were to be held on April 26. 1800 couples had registered for them. The programme was postponed to May 24. The matter will be decided in another three days. The weddings will be held in a simple manner.

"All the journalists in Mangaluru have undergone COVID tests. I will ask for similar tests in Udupi also. I will speak about the security of journalists to the chief minister."

Kollur Mookambika temple chief executive Arvind Ayyappa, assistant executive Krishna Murthy, Udupi Yakshagana Kalaranga president Murali Kadekar and P Kishan Hegde were present.