BIJAPUR: The fort city of Bijapur has geared up for `Navraspur Utsav,' a three-day cultural fete which will commence on Friday.

Besides the main stage on the premises of the Gol Gumbaz complex two more stages are being set up at Gagan Mahal garden in the heart of the city and at Navraspur music complex at Torvi near the city for the various events.

If everything goes according to the schedule, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will inaugurate the utsav from the main podium named after Mohammad Adil Shah who built the Gol Gumbaz, at 6 p.m. Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa is scheduled to release a souvenir.

However, according to sources in the district administration, both the leaders, who were in Bijapur on February 26 for a function, are unlikely to make it this time.

The administration has not received their tour programme till Thursday evening. However, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Govind Karjol, and Minister for Youth Services and Sports Hanumanthappa Alkod have confirmed their participation.

`Kala jatha'

Before the formal inaugural function at Gol Gumbaz, a "kala jatha" comprising folklore events will be taken out from the Navraspur complex.

A State-level wrestling competition will also be held there. Bijapur MP and former Minister of State for Railways Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal is scheduled to inaugurate both the events at 4 p.m.

However, according to Deputy Commissioner and head of the Utsav Samiti Mohammad Mohsin, the events will be delayed by an hour because of the temperature. The inaugural function will be held after the "kala jatha" reaches the Gol Gumbaz premises.

The inauguration of the utsav will also mark the commencement of the celebrations to mark the 350th year of the construction of Gol Gumbaz.

Noted flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and playback singer Anuradha Paudwal will perform on Friday night.

Mr. Mohsin, who inspected the preparations along with Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rajiv Ranjan said 52 artistes and their teams will perform at the event.

He said work on the illumination of Gol Gumbaz had been completed.

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