MANDYA: About 50,000 people, including men, women and children, lined up for the post-wedding feast (beegara oota) hosted for newly-weds Abhishek Ambareesh and Aviva Bidapa at a sprawling 15-acre field at Gejjalagere near Mandya on Friday.
The police had a tough time managing the surging crowds which rushed towards the pandal where dining arrangements had been made, breaking down barricades. Fervent pleas by filmmaker Rockline Venkatesh, with folded hands, to maintain calm fell on deaf ears. The police even had to resort to lathicharge to control the situation.
Finally, it was left to Abhishek Ambareesh to appeal to the huge crowds to maintain calm and take turns in dining. Food will be served in batches for everyone and there is food for everyone, he assured them.
About 4,500 people could be seated for each batch. Serving of food started right from 11.30 am and went on till late afternoon. About 900 cooks from Mandya prepared the food and preparations had started on Thursday night itself. About seven tons of mutton and eight tons of chicken was used for the meals. The menu included ragi balls, mutton biryani, boti curry, native chicken sambar, kabab, eggs, rice, rasam, badusha, kheer with pan beeda, ice cream and plantain for dessert.
A fan also presented a special gift with a picture of Abhishek and Aviva painted on one side of a bull and greetings on the other. The couple posed for pictures with the bull along with Abhishek’s mother and Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh.