Madikeri: The three-day Kodagu Pravasi Utsav, which ended here on Sunday, attracted a large number of people.
The event was held to revive tourism in Kodagu, the picturesque district which was devastated by floods and landslides in last August.
Lodges, resorts and homestays in the district saw 85 per cent occupancy on all three days. The Department of Tourism and the district administration organised the event for the first time to give flip to tourism.
“This event will go a long way in motivating the people who depend on tourism in Kodagu after the big tragedy in August last,” Kodagu district resorts, hotels and restaurants’ association head Nagendra Prasad said.
“Kodagu Pravasi Utsav should become an annual event henceforth,” P.K. Somaiah, a planter from Murnad near Madikeri, said.
The day-long open street festival on the stretch between MM Circle and Raja Seat in Madikeri on Sunday attracted at least 30,000 people. The event, which began with yoga and zumba, had colourful cultural programmes. Folk artistes performed Chinese lion dance and “maragaalu kunitha”. The event also featured a magic show, live demonstration of pottery making and portrait painting. The venue had shops selling desi clothes, handicrafts and handlooms exhibitions, besides food stalls.
The three-day flower show hosted by the Horticulture Department at the Raja Seat had 15,000 species of plants.
