Mangaluru: The 8th Kerala State Kannada Sammelana-2026, along with the Kerala-Karnataka Utsava and Kerala State Children’s Literary Festival, will be held at Kannada Grama in Kasaragod on Nov 28 and 29.
SL Bharadwaj, president, Kasaragod Karnataka Parishat, told reporters on Thursday that the event would attract more than 1,000 delegates, writers, artists and cultural representatives from different regions. The organisers have also decided to felicitate 36 media professionals to mark 36 years of the prathistana’s activities. Mangaluru taluk Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Manjunath S Revankar announced that the half-acre land allotted for Kannada Bhavan in Thiruvail in Vamanjoor had been handed over to the parishat.
Accommodation arrangements have been made at Kannada Grama, he said. Former Karnataka chief minister M Veerappa Moily will inaugurate the event. The sammelana will also honour noted singer Ramesh Chandra, a three-time Karnataka state award recipient, with the Kasaragod Karnataka Rajyotsava award.
The programmes will begin at 9 am on both days and continue until late at night, with cultural and literary events scheduled throughout the two-day festival. Health minister UT Khader will attend as chief guest. Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj will participate. The Kasaragod MP and MLAs will be present.
A representation seeking financial assistance was submitted to the chief minister on July 18, following which the organisers were assured of support. Meanwhile, prathistana president Shivaram Kasaragod said the organisation had sought Rs 50 lakh from Karnataka govt for the Sammelana but was informed that the grant could not be considered due to technical issues.
“Karnataka govt promises to stand with Gadinadu Kannadigas, but it only remains a promise,” he said, expressing disappointment over the lack of govt’s financial assistance. “If the govt does not support Kannada, it will die in Kasaragod,” he said. However, the organisation was advised to apply when applications were invited in the next financial year.