Mysore/Mysuru: With grand Dasara festivities starting from today, the Dasara Sub-Committee for Fine Arts and Handicrafts has organised various programmes and competitions at Kalamandira premises.

Kannada and Culture Minister V. Sunil Kumar will inaugurate the State-level Sculpture and Art Expo today at 5.30 pm. Mayor Shivakumar, Karnataka Shilpakala Academy Chairman Veeranna M. Arkasali and Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy Chairman D. Mahendra will be the chief guests. MLA L. Nagendra will preside. 

City Sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who is credited for carving the statues of Adi Shankaracharya installed at Kedarnath  and Netaji  at India Gate will be felicitated on the occasion.

Over 100 artifacts will be displayed at the expo which will conclude on Oct. 3. It will be open for the general public from 10 am to 7 pm daily.

Expo of handicrafts and art will be held between Oct. 1 and Oct. 3. Over 12 varieties of crafts including Kinnal craft, Koudi kale, kasuti embroidery, pottery, Inlay art, Actor Puneeth Rajkumar portrait made with colours, Handloom and Spinning art, Bamboo or cane baskets,                                                    Channapatna toys, Worli art, Mehndi art, Caricature and other fine arts will be displayed in the expo.

Drawing competition for children will be held on Oct. 1 at 10.30 am. MP Pratap Simha will inaugurate the programme. Winners will be given cash prizes of Rs. 4,000 (first), Rs. 3,000 (second ) and Rs. 2,000 (third).

The first three best painting and sculpture arts will be given a cash prize of Rs. 6,000 each at the valedictory programme on Oct. 3 at 4 pm at Kiru Rangamandira in Rangayana premises. District Minister S.T. Somashekar will be present. 

50 percent of artifacts and sculptures displayed at the expo will be sent to respective academies while the remaining will be kept at Kalamandira premises.

18 lakh grants sanctioned

Speaking about the grants sanctioned for the expo, Kannada and Culture Department Joint Director V. N. Mallikarjunaswamy said that they had sought a grant of Rs. 37 lakh but had submitted the quotation for Rs. 28 lakh. However, Rs. 18 lakh has been sanctioned and Rs. 10 lakh has been released.