Kavita annual Konkani Fest to be held in Bela on January 8
Kasaragod: Bela, a place known as the capital of the Konkani-speaking community in Kerala is all set to host Kavita Fest, the annual poetry festival hosted by Kavita Trust.
The day-long event includes poetry-related activities scheduled to be held in the courtyard of Stany Bela here on Sunday, January 8. Poets and poetry lovers from Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala will take part in the event.
The programme will begin at 9 am with a procession accompanied by bands. The final round of Nelson and Lavina Rodrics, Cha Fra D Costa Memorial Poetry Recitation Competition will be held after the inaugural event.
Eminent Konkani author and journalist Austine D'Souza Prabhu will inaugurate the festival. Stany Bela, Konkani author, and Anwesha Singbal, president, KBM Goa, will attend as guests of honours.
Santhosh Perla, a renowned leader and a writer from the Konkani-speaking community in Kerala, will participate in an interactive session in the afternoon. Trustee of Kavita Trust and author William Pais will chair the session.
A collection of poems titled 'Chiturleche Acche Din' by Wilson Kateel will be released on the occasion.
Prashanth Naik, president, Nirakar Education Society and former president, KBM, Goa, will be the chief guest for the valedictory session.
Rathnamala Divakar, author, lyricist and former vice-president, KBM, and Gokulnath Prabhu, NRI entrepreneur, will be the guests of honour.
Poet Indu Ashok Gerusoppe will be honoured with Mathias Family Poetry Award. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a memento and a certificate.
Bela is a village situated in Kerala and represents the highest number of Konkani-speaking people in Kerala. Although Malayalam is the state language, Konkani still has a strong influence over the village art and culture like in coastal Karnataka and Goa.
It is said that more than 25,000 Konkani-speaking people reside in various parts of Kasargod district, which has a major share compared to other districts of Kerala.
Christians, Gowda Saraswatha Brahmins and Rama Saraswatha Brahmins are the major religion-based communities who speak Konkani as mother tongue in Kerala, especially in Kasargod district.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
