Mangaluru: The 23rd edition of Alva’s Education Foundation, ‘Alva’s Virasat’, will be held from January 13 to January 15 at Moodabidri.

“Eminent classical dancer VP Dhananjayan will be presented the ‘Alva’s Virasat 2017’ award,” said Dr Mohan Alva, Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation on Monday at Mangaluru Press Club.

“Dhananjayan, a native of Payyunur, Kannur district, Kerala, will be presiding over the Virasat this year. He is a prolific writer who writes on social and political issues. He is a recipient of several awards, including the Padma Bhushan,”

Mohan Alva further said that Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade will inaugurate the event in the presence of Nitte University Chancellor N. Vinay Hegde.

“The three-day event will be held at Shrimathi Vanajakshi K Sripathi Bhat open auditorium which can comfortably accommodate around 45,000 people. The event will begin at 6 pmand conclude at 10.30 pm on all days,” said Dr Alva.

Virasat is a cultural programme whose objective is to display classical and folk artists’ talent to a wider audience. Prominent artists such as Sonal Mansingh, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Kadri Goplanathan, Dr Balamuralikrishna, Dr K.J. Yesudas, Pt. Ajay Chakraborty, Padmabhushan Dr Padma Subramnyam have performed at the event.

More than 40,000 people, both domestic and foreign, come to watch the 3-day programme and more than 20 lakhs audience watch the event on television.