Belagavi
The horse-shaped statue of Veerarani Kittur Channammaji, made from millets, is attracting attention at the flower show of Kittur festival. A variety of artworks made of vegetables and flowers have aroused the curiosity of the people. Artist Shivalingappa Badigera has created a 6.5-feet-tall statue of Channammaji made using millets like jowar, bajra, navane, ragi and channangi dal.
Rani Channamma, Sangolli Rayanna, Dr. BR Ambedkar, Swami Vivekananda, Bhagat Singh, Dr. Rajkumar, Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar and Kanthara’s films are inviting everyone. Various artworks carved in pumpkin, brinjal, radish, gajjari, cucumber, peacock made from ornamental asparagus vine, crocodile artworks made from gourd and bitter gourd are special.
One can see a picture of the globe made from gerbera, button rose, carnation flowers. The black and saucer is created from sevanti, button rose flowers. It is made to pour milk in one cup and coffee in the other. A replica of the mermaid is built from thermocol. Sevanthi, Orchid, Anthurium flowers are used for this purpose. It is fascinating to have created a map of Karnataka with rose button and yellow sevanthi flowers with our proud Karnataka slogan.
Another highlight of the flower show is that the portraits of Amatura Balappa and Sangolli Rayanna, the kalis of Kittur, have been created from rangoli. Assistant Horticulture Officer Ashwini Yaddalagundi said, the flower show has received an overwhelming response from the public. People are happy to see the artworks here, she said.
Lakshmi, a student from Chikka Hattiholi, said, the Rani Channammaji idol made from millets is unique. These artists who have produced such wonderful works of art should be given priority at the state level, she said.
