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.Organised by Karavali Samskritika Prathistana, Kasaragod, the two-day event aims to showcase Kannada language, literature, culture and heritage while promoting cultural exchange between Kerala and Karnataka.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. Accommodation arrangements have been made at Kannada Grama, he said.Karavali Samskritika Prathistana had been working for the promotion of Kannada in Kerala for the past 35 years and has been organising the Kerala-Karnataka state-level celebrations by bringing together various organisations. The organisation has completed 37 years, he added.Former Karnataka chief minister M Veerappa Moily will inaugurate the event. Health minister UT Khader will attend as chief guest. Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj will participate. The Kasaragod MP and MLAs will be present. 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.A foundation stone will be laid for the proposed Kerala-Karnataka Bhavan at a cost of Rs 10 crore. A Gau Kutira, constructed in Kasaragod at a cost of around Rs 25 lakh, will be inaugurated as part of the celebrations.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. A representation seeking financial assistance was submitted to the chief minister on July 18, following which the organisers were assured of support. However, the organisation was advised to apply when applications were invited in the next financial year. He also appealed to institutions and the public to support the event.“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.The sammelana will also honour noted singer Ramesh Chandra, a three-time Karnataka state award recipient, with the Kasaragod Karnataka Rajyotsava award. 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.
