Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB)
Mangalore, Nov 12: Alvas Education Foundation, Moodbidri will host, for the first time, a state-level flod-lit sports meet for four days from December 7 to 10, 2006 in Moodbidri.
The meet has been named after the legendary archman Ekalavya and will be known as 'Alvas Ekalavya Kridotsava 2006'.
Athletes from various primary and high school and pre-university colleges and 19 degree colleges from the state will take part in this meet.
The mascot of the festival, 'Kati' ,(a term for bison in local parlance) was formally launched at a colourful function at Moodbidri on Saturday. The mascot was brought in a procession by NCC troops, accompanied by Mother Teresa Brass Band, Hadinbala, Uttar Kannada, Chaitanya Friends Band, Baikampady, and various school bands from DK and Udupi districts, through the national highway 13 and Moodbidri town to Swarajya ground.
Earlier, MLA K Abhayachandra unveiled the mascot on the Betkeri ground in the presence of Foundation chairman Dr Mohan Alva, former minister K Amaranath Shetty, Jain PU College correspondent Hemaraj and mascot designer artist Gopadkar. Amaranath Shetty released the 'Kati' stickets.
At the stage function, Dr Alva explained the colour scheme of the bison mascot, as conceived by artist Gopadkar, as follows:
The bison is symbolic of the traditional buffalo-race, representing enthusiasm, power, determination, agility and optimism
Head in green: Zest, lively nature, open mind and aesthetic sense
Red in torso: Surging ahead, consistency, resolve to excel
Yellow in the rest of the portion: Sensitivity and critical sense
The human form with the bison's head has a torch in its right hand.
About 6,000 athletes are expected to take part in the sports meet. The organizers have sought full cooperation from the public, business community and the media.
District-level physical education official H A Gopal, rural PE officer M N Nayak, Moodbidri PE officer Prasanna Kumar Jain, block education officer Cyprian Monteiro and others wre present on the occasion.
Artist Gopadkar was felicitated for bringing out a creative output like the Kati mascot.