Hampi (Vijayanagara): Among the 180 pairs that participated in the bullock pair competition organised as part of the Hampi Utsav on Friday, pairs of the Hallikar breed secured the first prize.The Hallikar breed bullock pair of Manjunath R from Hosapete won the champion prize of Rs 10,000, along with a certificate. The bullock pairs of B Basava of Gadinaganur village, Shankarappa from Balapur village, and Mahmud Hussain of Hosapete secured the second, third, and fourth positions, respectively.District minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan personally supported the award-winning farmers by presenting a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.Deputy commissioner Kavita S Mannikeri inaugurated the horticulture, fruit and flower, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and trade stalls organised at the Matanga Parvat ground. Floral recreations of the iconic Badavi Linga and Sasivekalu Ganesha statues emerged as the centre of attraction.An idol of Sri Krishna crafted entirely from flowers, and the Salumarada Thimmakka idol made of millets, also received significant public response. The ornamental fish display drew a large crowd, adding to the festive atmosphere at the venue. The image ‘Save the Female Foetus’ highlighted social awareness at the rangoli competition held outside the Sri Virupaksha Temple, with 41 female contestants taking part.The rangoli designs featuring the Varaha emblem of the historic Vijayanagara Empire, Sri Krishna Devaraya, Shiva Linga, lion, and others captivated the audience.
