Mangalore, Aug 28: With an Immaculate intention to develop the religious and cultural awareness and to encourage the hidden talents of the little children, Kalkura Prathistana organizes National Level Children’s Festival ‘Shree Krishna Vesha Competition’ at Kadri SRI Manjunatha Temple on September 1, Wednesday, said Pradeep Kumar Kalkura.
Addressing a press meet held at Hotel Janatha Delux on August 28, Saturday the contest being organized under the aegis of Kalkura Foundation is an attempt to develop religious and cultural awareness and to encourage the hidden talents among the little children.
He also said that, on the occasion, various competitions will be held at 8 venues simultaneously from 1.30 pm to 6 pm. While various cultural programmes will be organized from 12 pm to 12 am, he said.
Giving details about the contest, Mr Kalkura said the competition has been divided into 14 categories and all the categories will hold the contests simultaneously. They include ‘Kanda Krishna’ (for tiny tots, below one year),  ‘Muddu Krishna’ (for toddlers below 2 years wherein contestants’ mothers too are allowed to accompany the toddlers to the stage); ‘Thunta Krishna’ (for toddlers between 2 to 3 years: ‘Bala Krishna’ (for Kindergarden & LKG kids); ‘Kishora Krishna’ (UKG & Ist standard); ‘Sri Krishna’ (for those belonging to 2nd, 3rd and 4th std); ‘Geetha Krishna’ (for students up to 7th std create Geethopadesha situation with costumes); ‘Yaksha Krishna’ (thenku & badagu) (for students upto 7th std. The contestants in this category will have to wear traditional yakshagana costumes like ‘pagadi,’ ‘kedage’ and ‘mandale’ among others); and ‘Radhakrishna’ (for students upto 7th std). The ‘Yashodha Krishna’ category women as Yashodha and any child as Krishna Can participate with action, No age limit for women and child); ‘Shankanada’ with Traditional Costumes – section -1: For children up to 7th , Section – 2 for up to 7th  and open to all)  and the special competition ‘Devaki Krishna’ (Mother  previous participants as Devaki and their child as Krishna can participate), he informed.
Apart from it, ‘Srikrishna quiz’ too has been organized for children upto 7th standard. The quiz questions will be released on the spot and students participating in other categories too can participate in this category, he stated.
To encourage participation of more and more number of children, every participating child will be given an idol of ‘Kadagolu’ Krishna made of panchaloha, books relating to stories on Sri Krishna, a certificate, a picture of Lord Manjunatha, an attractive cloth bag apart from prizes sponsored by sponsorers. There is no entry fee. This apart, hot milk, peda and ice cream will be distributed to all participating children, he added.
Mentally retarded and other disabled children will be specially encouraged to participate in the contest, he added.
Arrangement will also be made to take a group photo of all the participants of Krishna Vesha. However, interested participants may also take photos of their children at their own cost with the photographers present at the venue.
The formal inaugural programme will begin at 12 pm to 12.45 pm Venugana Sanbgeetha Vaibhava by the students of Nadasaraswathi Sangeetha Vidyalaya, directed by Vidushi Stayavathi Mudambadithaya and leadership of AIR National Awardee Flute Artist Master Krishan Pavan Kumar and Archana R Priyadarshini. Yakshagana Vaibhava by Puttige Raghurama Holla at 12.45. Lighting the lamp by honourable guests dignitaries and in the presence of children’s at 1 pm.
More details may be had from Kadri Navneeth Shetty (2213061, 94481-23061), Sudhakar Rao Pejawar (2443360, 2214093), Gokul K (2214176), Dayanand Kateel (2493089).
Kadri Navneeth Shetty, Sudhakar Rao Pejawar, Dayanand Kateel, Prabhakar Rao Pejawar, Nagraj, Nithyananda Polali and Janardhana Hande were present at the press meet.