Mangaluru, August 10: The “Aati Koota” function was held at Dr Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisarga Dhama in Pilikula on Sunday, August 9th gave a glimpse of the Aati celebrations of ‘Tulunadu’ in the past.
The event was symbolically inaugurated by planting the paddy saplings in the paddy filed in front of the “Guttinamane” in Pilikula Nisargadhama by MLA JR Lobo, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Director of Pilikula Biological Park Jayaprakash Bhandary, D K District in-charge Secretary Bharathlal Meena, DC A B Ibrahim, DK district Karnataka Sahitya Parishat President Pradeep Kumar Kalkura and others.
Nitte University Chancellor Vinay Hegde, artist Gururaj Marpalli were the chief guests.
Bharatlal Meena, DC AB Ibrahim and ZP CEO along with the Scouts and Guides children entered to the paddy field and sowed the paddy saplings along with them.
“Aati Kalenja” was the special attraction on this occasion.
Yakshagana “Balarama Bhakti”, “Shoorpanakhi Maanabhanga” by Chikkamela Yakshagana team from Permanki was presented on this occasion.
Twenty one types of special cuisine varieties were arranged for lunch in the afternoon. The items such as pickle, kosambri, uppad pacchir, many leafy items, rasam, sandige, etc were there and for the lunch each was charged Rs 250.
In front of the Zoo, competitions for the students, variety fruits exhibition and sale, exhibition of stamps and coins, variety aati cuisines were organized. Tug of war competitions for men and women, Aati Kalenja competitions were also organized.
Lecturer Dr Ganesh Amin Sankamar compeered the program.
In this program, executive director of Pilikula Nisargadhama Prabhakar Sharma, director of Pilikula Science Centre K V Rao, Mangaluru Assistant Commissioner Dr D R Ashok, Yathish Baikampady and others were present.
With a view to develop Pilikula Nisargadhama, it has been decided to organize a program every month throughout the year. The Aati program organized here has received a good response from the public’s, said DK Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim.
