First ship in, season sets sail
Strapline: Cruise tourism returns to Karnataka’s coast; season opens softly, prioritising welcome, wellness, culture & confidence
OB Bureau
The new cruise season at New Mangalore Port opened quietly midweek, as the luxury liner Seven Seas Navigator eased into the harbour at dawn, bringing the first wave of international tourists for 2025–26.
For port officials and local tourism stakeholders, the arrival marked a symbolic restart of cruise activity along Karnataka’s coast.
Sailing under the Bahamian flag, the vessel arrived from Mormugao in the early hours of December 22 and was berthed soon after, setting the tone for what the New Mangalore Port Authority hopes will be a steady cruise season ahead.
On board were hundreds of foreign travellers and a sizable crew, many of them experiencing coastal Karnataka for the first time.
The port marked the occasion with a traditional reception, using music, colour and local motifs to introduce visitors to the region’s cultural identity.
Authorities said the emphasis this season was not just on berthing vessels, but on creating a smoother and more welcoming experience for cruise tourists from the moment they step ashore.
To that end, the port worked closely with Customs, Immigration, tourism agencies and other departments to streamline arrivals and services.
Several passenger-oriented initiatives were put in place at the terminal. Visitors had access to free Wi-Fi, while a meditation space curated by the Ministry of AYUSH offered a glimpse into India’s wellness traditions.
A Yakshagana-themed selfie point, installed by the Ministry of Tourism, became a popular stop, blending cultural storytelling with contemporary travel habits.
During their brief stay, cruise passengers dispersed across the region, visiting heritage and spiritual landmarks such as the Gomateshwara statue at Karkala and the Thousand Pillar Temple at Moodabidri, as well as natural and cultural attractions including Pilikula Nisargadhama, artisan villages, local markets and historic landmarks within Mangaluru city.
Officials said the curated itineraries were designed to give tourists a rounded sense of the area’s religious, ecological and everyday life.
While the arrival signals optimism, port officials acknowledge that cruise traffic has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. Before Covid-19, New Mangalore Port routinely handled more than two dozen cruise calls in a season.
In recent years, that figure has plateaued in the single digits, reflecting a slower recovery across the sector. Even so, there are signs of gradual momentum. The port handled seven cruise vessels in the 2024–25 season, and officials say six cruise operators have already indicated interest for the ongoing 2025–26 cycle.
For New Mangalore Port, the season’s first ship is less about numbers and more about restoring confidence—one vessel at a time.
HL: Police say no to Chinnaswamy fixture
OB bureau
The shadow of last June’s deadly stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium continues to influence decisions around crowd management at the venue. Against that backdrop, Karnataka Police have refused permission for the Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, citing unresolved safety risks.
Bangalore Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh confirmed midweek that the inspection had been carried out on the instructions of the Home Department. He said the findings of all participating departments were compiled into a comprehensive report, based on which permission for the match scheduled on Wednesday was denied and the assessment submitted to the government.
Police officials said the inspection also focused on compliance with a 17-point safety advisory earlier issued by the city police for large sporting events. The committee found that several of the prescribed measures had not been satisfactorily implemented.
Sources indicated that particular concern centred on the stadium’s narrow entry and exit gates, which were considered inadequate for managing large crowds.
Authorities were also wary of a potential surge in spectators due to the expected presence of star cricketer Virat Kohli, a factor that could further strain crowd control mechanisms.
Following the police decision, KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad reportedly made a last attempt to seek relaxation by meeting the Home Minister, but officials remained unmoved, stressing that safety considerations would take precedence over the conduct of the match.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara had earlier constituted a committee to examine whether the stadium was fit to host the fixture and later chaired a review meeting at Vidhana Soudha with senior police officers and officials of the Karnataka State Cricket Association. During the deliberations, the KSCA suggested that the match could be held without spectators, restricting access to players and officials alone.
However, a detailed inspection of the stadium by a multi-department team raised red flags. Officials from the police, fire services, Greater Bangalore Authority and the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company jointly assessed the venue and flagged deficiencies in infrastructure and emergency response systems.
The refusal underscores a more cautious approach by the authorities, shaped in no small measure by the June 4 tragedy, when 11 people were killed during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s victory celebrations near the stadium; an incident that continues to loom large over every major event planned at Chinnaswamy.
HL: Nine days, 60 countries: BIFFES 2026 opens Jan 29
OB Bureau
As Bangalore prepares to turn the spotlight back on cinema, the city will host the 17th edition of the Bangalore International Film Festival (BIFFES) from January 29 to February 6, transforming multiple venues into hubs of global storytelling.
The festival will open with a ceremonial inauguration on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha, an event that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he will personally preside over.
Acclaimed actor, director and producer Prakash Raj has been named the festival’s ambassador, lending his voice and presence to this year’s edition.
This season’s festival is expected to revolve around themes of women’s empowerment, though organisers said the final thematic framing is still being firmed up.
Screenings will be anchored at Cinepolis in Lulu Mall, Rajajinagar, which will host films across 11 screens, while additional venues across the city will help spread the festival’s footprint.
Film submissions for competitive sections covering Asian, Indian and Kannada cinema are already underway, with organisers reporting a strong early response. More than 110 films have been submitted so far, and entries will continue to be accepted until December 31.
Beyond Lulu Mall, screenings are planned at Dr Rajkumar Bhavan, the Artists’ Association in Chamarajpet and the Suchitra Film Society in Banashankari.
In all, the festival will feature over 400 screenings of around 200 films drawn from more than 60 countries, offering audiences a wide sweep of contemporary cinema alongside regional and national works.
According to the Chief Minister, the line-up will include internationally celebrated films that have travelled across some of the world’s most prestigious festivals, from Cannes and Berlin to Venice, Locarno, Toronto and Busan.
Several award-winning titles and films shortlisted for this year’s Academy Awards are also expected to feature, bringing global cinema to local screens under one umbrella. Adding a distinct curatorial layer this year is a special programme tracing the evolution of African cinema.
The segment is being presented in collaboration with Alliance Française Bangalore and the French Institute in India, offering festival-goers a rare opportunity to engage with film histories that are seldom showcased at Indian festivals.
The state government has allocated a grant of ₹7 crore for organising this year’s festival.
The closing ceremony will see awards presented for the best films across categories, along with a Lifetime Achievement Award, rounding off nine days of cinema, conversation and cultural exchange in the heart of the city.