Hampi: Hampi, the world heritage site and erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar empire, turned into a wonderland offering an audio-visual treat to connoisseurs of art and music with a three-day mega cultural festival of dance, drama and music titled Hampi Utsav – 2016 beginning on Thursday.
District in-charge minister Santosh Lad launched the festival by performing pooja to ‘Nandi Dhwaja’ in front of Virupaksha temple. A procession was taken out from there to the colourfully decorated main stage –M.P. Prakash Vedike, where at 6 pm, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah officially inaugurated Hampi Utsav by lighting a lamp.
A team of 160 artistes from Ballari district, 55 state-level troupes, 15 national-level troupes and 12 international troupes, including those from Russia, France, Columbia, Austria, Bangladesh, Iran, Italy, Israel, Egypt, Hungary and Afghanistan are set to present cultural programmes during the Utsav. Artistes of national and international fame, including Padma Bhushan Mallika Sarabhai, Padmashri Venkatesh Kumar, Narasimhalu Vadvati, Nagaveni Srinath, music directors Saleem Suleman, Rajesh Krishnan, Raghu Dixit and Benny Dayal are among those who will enthrall the audience. A sound and light show has been arranged from 7 pm to 9 pm from November 3 and 9 at Anesalu Mantapa (Elephants stable). As many as 107 artistes are set to present a dance ballet highlighting the greatness of the Vijayanagar empire. Hampi by Sky, being organised for the third year in succession is drawing crowds by the hordes, be it riders who want to hop onto the chopper for a panoramic view of the heritage complex or those content with a glimpse of the metal birds. The chopper ride would be offered till November 7. Rock climbing, swimming competition, wrestling contest, slush race, rural sports events and magic show by Kudroli Ganesh have been organized. A poets meet, youth meet and farmers meet have also been planned.
