Mangaluru : U T Khader, district in-charge minister, released the logo of the river festival at DC office Mangaluru on Tuesday, January 1.

The film festival, highlighting the need to conserve rivers and water, will be organised on January 12, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said.

The festival will be the special feature of the two-day river festival organised by the district administration and the Tourism Department, he added.

Music by local artistes – including a Koraga band and another well-known band – is the highlight. The food festival will present the flavour of local traditional delicacies to visitors. Activities related to the river festival, including a food festival, fun and merry making, will be held on a 23-acre site at Bangra Kuloor. The river festival will be held from Kuloor and Sultan Battery to Tannirbavi on River Phalguni, said Senthil.

“Boats will ferry visitors to Bangra Kuloor from the said venues. No private vehicles will be allowed to the venue,” said the deputy commissioner.

“Tourism has focused on beaches so far. Now, there is a need to shift the focus on rivers. The aim of the river festival is to activate the entire backwater and river system in the district, said the officer, adding, “We want private players to invest in jetties and improving facilities to promote rivers in the future. In addition, activating rivers will help create awareness on the conservation of rivers.”

The Tourism Department has also released grant of Rs 25 lakh for the river festival, he stated.

Jet skiing, stand-up pedalling, speed boat rides, kayaking, banana boat rides and other water sports will be organised. Floating restaurants too will be set up along with around 20 floating jetties on the venues, from Kuloor to Sultan Battery and Tannirbavi, he said.

Khader directed officials to take up activities in the river festival keeping youth in mind.

Senthil said that the Abbakka Utsava will be organised in a disciplined and systematic manner in February this year. “A committee will be set up by taking everyone into confidence,” he added.