Over 1,600 artists from 22 states turn up at Chitra Santhe

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As many as 1,600 artists from 22 states participated in the 21st edition of Chitra Santhe, the annual art festival at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (KCP) in Bengaluru on Sunday.

An estimated three to four lakh visitors show up to the event every year. Vehicular traffic was banned on Kumara Krupa Road to facilitate the movement of the visitors on foot.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah praised the organisers for the stellar job they had done.

“It is a matter of pride that 1,600 artists from 22 states participated in Chitra Santhe. The dedication of Chitra Santhe to give space to scientists this time shows the special respect paid to them,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said that the government was committed to the development of art, adding that a grant of Rs 50 lakh was approved for the KCP.

He said that the State government will provide necessary assistance to establish museums and art galleries in all districts. Chitra Santhe has been organised since 2003.

“This year the 21st Chitra Santhe is taking place. I used to inaugurate Chitra Santhe every year when I was the Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018,” Siddaramaiah said, welcoming the artists.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil, Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar, MLAs Rizwan Arshad, Ajay Singh, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath president BL Shankar and vice president Prabhakar were also present on the occasion.