Four-day Dharwad Utsav ends on a vibrant note

Jan 26, 2011, 10.20am IST

DHARWAD: Even as the winter is slowly on its way out in North Karnataka and the weather is getting warmer by the day, the connoisseurs in the twin cities of Dharwad and Hubli were in for a thrill for four days in a row with a variety of cultural extravaganzas at Dharwad Utsav 2010-2011 to keep them amused. Tuesday saw the curtains coming down on the festivities that succeeded in strengthening the impression that Dharwad is still the cultural hub and holds out a promise of being so for several more years.

But for the sad demise of son of the soil Pandit Bhimsen Joshi which made the art lovers dedicate the programmes scheduled for Monday to the departed doyen of Hindustani music, the Utsav became a people's festival with a large number of eminent singers, writers, poets, painters, actors, students and social activists enthusiastically participating in the programmes and organizing them.

Presence of nonagenarian Patil Puttappa, poet Channaveera Kanavi, Gidaddi Govindraj, M M Kalburgi and others made the event more memorable. The Karnataka bandh call given by BJP on Saturday did not deter the people of Dharwad from turning up at the main venue, Karnatak College, in large numbers.

Poetry sessions, drawing and painting exhibition, dance, music, folk arts, symposium, drama and film festival among others provided the art lovers a rich cultural feast.

The sprawling Karnatak College ground with the monumental main building in the backdrop stood testimony to another historic event.

Illuminated beautifully, the entire campus was bustling with cultural activities. The Utsav provided a platform for several young artistes and college students to exhibit their talents.

That the events were spread over 14 venues in Dharwad and Hubli besides Kundgol and Annigeri proved to be a boon for the people, allowing them to attend the programmes of their choice.