Pethakal Summer Fest starts

UDHAGAMANDALAM: The 'Pethakal Summer Festival' got off to a rousing start on Wednesday at the JJ Heritage Park located in 'Pethakal' next to the Sullivan Memorial in Kannerimukku village near Kotagiri. The colourful event, a first of its kind in the Sullivan Memorial, attracted a sizeable crowd of locals and visitors.
Speaking on the occasion, Srinivas R.Reddy, Project Director, Hill Area Development Project, who inaugurated the festival said, "Such festivals are essential to promote and develop tourism in the Nilgiris. He assured that the Sullivan Memorial and surrounding areas would continue to benefit by the initiatives of Hill Area Development Project.
S Wappu, President, Kotagiri Town Panchayat said a resolution has already been passed to erect a welcome arch in front of the Sullivan Memorial. The festival started off with an hour long bajan session by Swami Tathva Chaitanya who runs an ashram to teach children classical music.
The festival sponsored by Indian Overseas Bank and organized by the Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC) had an exhibition and sale of handicrafts produced by the Rural Self Employment and Training Institute run by IOB in Kotagiri.
The main attraction of the festival was the food court where people could enjoy traditional food items of the Badagas such as 'Ennettu', 'Kadimittu', 'Ganjikke', 'Uppukorai', 'Gasu Baththal' and 'Erigittu with Sandege'.
Stating that the local people have a right as well as a responsibility to promote the Sullivan Memorial as a tourist spot, Dharmalingam Venugopal, Director of NDC, said, "The festival will become a regular feature during summer from now on".