Karavali Utsav to be extended till last week of February, says Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner

The annual Karavali Utsav, which will begin on December 20, will be extended till the end of February 2026 to include a host of programmes including Triathlon, Kite Festival, Food Festival, Dog show, and Film Festival, said H.V. Darshan, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner, in Mangaluru on December 2.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Darshan said the Karavali Utsav will be inaugurated on December 20 at the Karavali Utsav grounds, where exhibition stalls will come up. These stalls and the amusement park will function till January 4, 2026. Based on demand, the Mangaluru City Corporation will extend operation of these stalls and amusement park till February 2026.

Cultural programmes will be held on stage at the Karavali Utsav grounds in the evenings during the weekends between December 20 and January 4. On January 3 and January 4, the ‘Musical Nite’ programme will be presented by popular singers on Panambur, Tannirbhavi, or Sasihitlu beaches.

The annual ‘Kala Parba’, the street show of art by painters and artisans, will be part of the Karavali Utsav. This show will be held on Kadri Park Road from January 9 to January 11. Helicopter rides will take place during weekends from December 20.

The annual Triathlon, organised by Tapasya Foundation from January 9 and January 11, and Kite Festival, between January 17 and January 18, will take place at Tannirbhavi beach as part of the Karavali Utsav. A ‘Beech Habba’ will be held across beaches in the city, including at Ullal and Someshwar beaches, from January 23 to January 25. The annual flower show at Kadri Park on January 26 will also be part of Utsav, the Deputy Commissioner said.

New activities

Among the new activities during the festival will be the ‘Wine-Cheese-Cake’ fest, proposed to be held at Panambur beach in the last week of December. The district administration will hold the Street Food Festival at Kadri Park on January 30 and January 31.

The district administration has planned to hold a book fest in the last week of January and a film festival in the last week of February. The annual dog show will be held at Kadri Park on February 14. Talks were being held with football and volleyball associations to organise beach football and beach volleyball events. The administration was also considering holding kambala, Mr. Darshan said.

The district administration was coordinating with different organisations to hold a variety of events in the period to attract tourists from across the country. For events till January 4, it has estimated an expense of about ₹2.5 crore. Of this, the administration will generate ₹1 crore in terms of sponsorship. It will ask the government for a sum of ₹1.5 crore, he said.