Hectic Preparations on at Ujire Ahead of ‘World Tulu Convention-2009’
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Dec 5: Located 60 kms away from the city is Ujire in Belthangady taluk, which is now all set for the ‘World Tulu Convention-2009’ to be held from Thursday December 10 to Sunday December 13.
Stage and hall decorations and work on a special village depicting the tradition of the Tulu-speaking people are on full throttle.
The convention has been organized by a committee formed under the leadership of Dharmadhikari of Dharmastala Dr D Veerendra Heggade, who is the honorary president of the welcome committee.
The convention is all set to be a gala festival of Tuluvas from all over the world and is pegged to be an historic event to fulfill the demands of Tulu speakers spread all over the world.
Welcome arches with traditional items and decking of the main roads leading to the convention stadium are also going on and will be done in two days.
The special attraction is the Tulu village which is coming up on a 10-acre coconut plantation in Ajjarakallu near the convention stadium.
The village has a ‘Daivada Mane’ (temple of deities), ‘Nyaya Stana’ (traditional court), ‘Gutthuda Ell’ (house of landlord), the house of the Patel or village chief, ‘Hatti’ ( for buffaloes of ‘Kambala’), a traditional irrigation system, and many structures which transport the visitor to a traditional village of the pre-independence period in India.
All the structures have been prepared by eminent artist Jagadeesh Ammunje, who has been working for two months here to construct a replica of a traditional village. He is using traditional items such as wood for designing houses as well as modern methods to reproduce items which are extinct.
The village will have live artistes simulating a real village under the guidance of theatre director Jeevanram Sullia. There will be villagers working and landlords supervising.
Ammunje said that nearly 5,000 people have worked on the village and he has got several junior artists from the cinema industry as well as art schools.
He said that the place provided by the organizers is ideal for the village and it will be a centre of attraction during the convention.
Convention to Focus on Tulu Art, Culture, and Living
“The convention which will be held for three days will focus on the lifestyle of Tuluvas as well as the culture and traditionalism of Tulunadu”, said Dr Heggade.
“At the convention, sessions and seminars on language, growth, origin, specialty, as well as challenges are planned. After the convention, the demands of Tuluvas as focused upon by various scholars, speakers, and experts, will be put forth to the government”, he added.
Rs 1 Crore from State
Dr V S Acharya, state home minister, handed over the cheque from the state government to Dr Heggade, in a function.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Acharya said that necessary arrangements will be made to ensure the success of the convention and the state government is supporting the convention in all ways.
He said that road repairs, electricity, transport, traffic management and security measures will be done promptly and concerned departments have been informed as to arrangements in urgent policy.
Dr Heggade said that each Tuluva should celebrate the convention as their own and should join together for the demands of Tuluvas.
District-in-charge minister Krishna Palemar, Belthangady MLA Vasant Bangera, Mangalore MLA Yogish Bhat, and Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel were present at the programme.
Prior to the function, Dr Acharya inaugurated the high mast light erected at Ujire Circle, donated by M N Rajendra Kumar, president, South Canara District Credit Co-operative Bank, for the convention.
Dr M Mohan Alva, chairman, Alva’s Education Trust and general secretary of the organizing committee of the convention and Dr B Yashovarma, secretary, were also present.