Konkani mahotsava at Balehonnur

MANGALORE: The Konkani Publicity Committee of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Mangalore, in association with Konkani Yuva Awaz, is organising the first Hassan and Chikmagalur district-level Konkani mahotsava at the community hall at Balehonnur in Chikmagalur district on Sunday. Ronald Colaco, entrepreneur from Bangalore, will be the chief guest at the inaugural function.

A press release issued by H.S. Shivarudrappa, registrar of the academy, here on Wednesday, said the main aim of organising such festivals was to preserve culture, literature, arts and folklore. It was also aimed at restoring the language in areas where it was gradually being sidelined.

Pride

The academy wanted to restore a sense of pride among the Konkani community, a press release said.

Members of Mandd Sobhann, a leading Konkani cultural troupe here, headed by Eric Ozario who is also the president of the academy, would perform `Konkani Darshan' on the occasion.

M. Aloysius D'Souza, priest of Balehonnur Church; Pratap Nayak, linguist from Goa; Edward Nazareth, secretary of the committee; and members of the academy would participate, the press release said.