Newindpress

Udupi, Dec 11:  With only 24 hours left for the inauguration of the 74th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, Udupi is all set to host the literary bigwigs and Kannada fans.

Sammelan president Prof L S Sheshagiri Rao, Dharmasthall Kshetra Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade and other dignitaries will be escorted to the Sammelan venue in a grand procession.

More than 20 tableaux from the district and additional tableaux depicting the culture of different districts of Karnataka will add glamour to the procession. The idol of Kannadambe will be brought in the chariot of Sri Mahishamardini temple, Kadiyali. The procession will begin from Ajjarkad and will reach the venue at 11.30 am.

On the first day, the Udupi Oota (along with chapattis) would be served in three counters- for VIPs, delegates and the general public before the inauguration of the Sammelan at 11.30 itself.

The Kollur Sri Mookambika temple and Sri Ambalpady Janardana Mahakali temple, Ambalpady, have supplied food materials worth Rs 3 lakh while Sri Mahaganapathi temple, Anegudde, Sri Durgaparameshawari temple, Mandarthi, Sri Krishna temple, Udupi, Sri Anantheshwara and Chandramoulishwara temple, Udupi, Sri Mahishamardini temple, Kadiyali, donated food grains worth several lakhs of rupees.

Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala has offered to bear the expenses of Sammelan’s one-day meals and refreshments, costing around Rs 10 lakh. As many as 300 cooks have already begun working on Udupi recipe.

A total of 200 NSS volunteers have been deployed from Tuesday to look after the arrangements and 250 members of Bharath Sevadal would look after the smooth functioning at the main mantap.

Members of Bharath Scouts and Guides along with police will look after security arrangements. There was heavy demand for the stalls at the Sammelan venue and they have been allotted by picking lucky chit.