The 87th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana concluded in Mandya on Sunday night with a police band performance. In his valedictory speech, Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Mahesh Joshi announced that Ballari will host the 88th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, marking the event’s return to the district after 66 years.
The decision was finalized during the Kannada Sahitya Parishat executive committee meeting held on December 21. Several districts, including Ballari, Kolar, Yadgir, and Ramanagara, had submitted proposals to host the next Sammelana. After deliberations, all district committees unanimously agreed on Ballari as the host.
Nishti Rudrappa, president of the Ballari district Kannada Sahitya Parishat, expressed joy over the decision, highlighting the historical significance of the district hosting the Sammelana, which it had previously done in 1926, 1938, and 1958.
The Mandya Sammelana witnessed a massive turnout, particularly from Bengaluru, with the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway seeing heavy traffic, managed effectively by the police.