Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Nov 23: Citizen support is vital whenever initiatives meant for the betterment of society are taken up, said Rajyotsava awardee and senior Yakshagana artiste Sarapady Ashok Shetty.

He was speaking at the inauguration of Bantwal Utsava, a month-long grand consumer fair, amusement park, and cultural festival organised for the first time by Bantwal First at the Golden Park Grounds in BC Road.

He said Bantwal is a model not only for the district but for the entire state, being at the forefront in literature, art, politics, and culture. Such community-oriented programmes, when conducted without political motives, contribute to the overall health of society, he added.

Inaugurating the event, former minister B Ramanath Rai said that the festival being held at the BC Road junction will create a festive atmosphere for people in the surrounding areas and wished for its success. The programme was presided over by Bantwal Tulu Koota president Sudarshan Jain.

Bantwal TMC president B Vasu Poojary Loretto, Mooduru-Paduru Jodukare Bailu Kambala committee president Pius L Rodrigues, former grama panchayat member Chandraprakash Shetty Tumbe, town municipal vice president Moonish Ali, BUDA president Baby Kundar, Ganiga Sangha president Krishnappa Ganiga, advocate Umesh Kumar Y, entrepreneur Hamza Bastikodi, religious council member Devappa Kulal, district general merchants’ multi-purpose cooperative society president Subhashchandra Jain, town municipal nominated member Jagadish Kundar Bhandaribettu, and teacher Jyothi Martin were present.

Aid distributed

Bantwal MLA U Rajesh Naik visited during the evening session and conveyed his wishes. Aid was distributed to five specially-abled beneficiaries on the occasion. Festival managers Mohammad Nandavara, Naveen Kumar, Shivaprasad Bantwal, Vishwanath Kottari Sajipa, and Indian Amusement’s Nasir Kavalkatte were present.

Soumya Yeshavanth Bhandarabetta welcomed the gathering, Ibrahim Kailar proposed a vote of thanks, and Shreesha Vasavi compered the programme.