Khadi Utsava held at Sahyadri College in Shivamogga receives good response

The two-day Khadi Utsava, an exhibition-cum-sale of handloom products organised by the Sahyadri Commerce and Management College in Shivanogga, received an enthusiastic response.

The students, teaching and non-teaching staff of the college and neighbouring colleges visited the stalls put up by Shyli, Vastra Vinaya, Ambara Chittara- all from Heggodu in Sagar taluk- and Khadi Mane of Sagar. The shopkeepers, who were both manufacturers and sellers, expressed happiness over the response they received from the visitors.

Besides teachers, the students showed interest in the handloom products. Apart from buying products from the stalls, they also engaged in conversation with the sellers about how raw materials were sourced, issues faced by weavers, challenges of marketing the products, and about designs and colours in high demand.

Bhagirathi of Khadinane said, “Many people were curious about the saris with Hase drawing, a traditional art. I am thankful to the college for organising the event,” she said.

On the first day of the event, Kuvempu University Vice-Chancellor Sharath Ananthamurthy was among those who visited the stalls.

T. Avinash, principal of the college, said that the utsava was organised in the backdrop of a recent circular by the State government urging the government employees to wear khadi products on the first Saturday of every month. “We organised the festival with the cooperation of khadi product manufacturers so that staff of the three colleges on the campus make use of the opportunity. Besides that, ours is a management college. We wanted to provide a platform for the local garment manufacturers, from whom our students have many things to learn,” he said.

Wall magazine

A student’s handwritten wall magazine titled Antaranga was also launched on the occasion. Writer B.M. Puttaiah unveiled the magazine and appreciated the efforts in bringing out the edition. Siraj Ahmed, principal of Sahyadri Arts College, and others were present.

Besides, the college conducted a blood donation camp on the day.

T.D. Thimmappa, Medical Superintendent of McGann Hospital in Shivamogga, delivered a talk on blood groups and the significance of blood donation. Over 100 students and college faculty donated blood. The collected blood units were handed over to the McGann Hospital.