Mangaluru, (The Hindu): The three-day literary and cultural extravaganza ‘Alva’s Nudisiri’ will kick off at Moodbidri on Friday with focus on the diversity of Karnataka.

This will be the 15th edition of the grand festival, organised by Alva’s Education Foundation, Moodbidri.

Addressing reporters here on Monday, M. Mohan Alva, chairman of the foundation, said that writer and researcher Mallika S. Ghanti would preside over the event. Researcher Sha. Shettar is to inaugurate it.

An exposure programme on farming —‘Alva’s Krishi Siri’ — will be among the attractions. Visitors will get to see vegetables cultivated specifically for the purpose, a floriculture exhibition, a vegetable and fruit carving exhibition, and an exhibition of 40 species of bamboo and 44 species of bamboo saplings. Agriculture Minister N.H. Shivashankar Reddy will inaugurate Krishi Siri at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

According to Mr. Alva, there will be film shows on all three days from Friday. ‘Ammachiyemba Nenapu’ (Kannada) and ‘Talang Neer’ (Kodava) will be screened on Friday. ‘Kadahadiya Hoovugalu’ (Kannada), ‘Shuddi’ (Kannada), and ‘Paddayi’ (Tulu) will be screened on Saturday. ‘Sofia – A Dream Girl’ (Konkani) and ‘Hebbettu Ramakka’ (Kannada) will be screened on Sunday.

Mr. Alva said the three-day event would have four main literary sessions — on the literary, ‘adhyatma’, multi-lingual, and folk traditions of Karnataka. There will be kavi gosti, classical and folk dance, Yakshagana, classical music, folk music, singing of ranga geethes, harikathe and other events.

Award presentation
The Alva’s Nudisiri Award will be presented to 12 persons at the valedictory function on Sunday. It carries a purse of Rs.25,000 and a certificate. G.D Joshi of Mumbai, A.V. Narasimhamurthy of Mysuru, Bharati Vishnuvardhan, Arundhati Nag, Narahalli Balasubrahmanya, Prashanth Madta from Bengaluru, L. Bandenawaz Khalif Aldala of Kalaburagi, K. Ramananda Banari of Kasaragod, A.V. Navada and Aruva Koragappa Shetty of Mangaluru, Gartikere Raghanna from Shivamogga, and Mysuru Natraj from Washington will be given the award.