Bangalore, Dec 28 (IANS) Savita and Gangadhar Hiremath, married for more than five decades, argued, quarrelled and abused each other - and had the audience in splits, as they walked away with the first prize at this unique 'abuse without offending' competition in Karnataka.
The elderly couple entertained a 3,000 strong audience and beat around 350 other competitors from various parts of Karnataka Saturday. Their prize - a garland of flowers.
The competition 'Hubli Vichitra Baigula' (Hubli Unusual Abuse) was organised by the trustees of Dakshina Vaishnodevi Temple in Hubli, 370 km from here.
'The competition drew a huge response. The audience had a great time as participants through their intelligent and inventive way of abusing each other kept every one laughing,' Gangadhar Hiremath, secretary of Hubli Vichitra Baigula, who shares his name with the winner of the competition, told IANS.
'It was a fun filled event and nowhere did the participants use offensive language,' he added.
'We're happy to win the first prize. On the stage we stayed natural and used language which we use in our daily life,' said the Hubli based Hiremath couple in unison at the end of the event.
The second prize was bagged by Lalitha Benakatti from Hubli and the third prize was won by Gundappa Benakatti and his wife Gauramma, also from Hubli.
The competition was open for all and there was no age limit. Participants took the stage either solo or the abuses were hurled between two individuals, husband-wife duo, friends or brother-sister.
The event attracted participants from Bellary, Gadag, Belgaum, Mysore, Karwar and other areas in the state, the organisers said.
Asked what made them think of such an unusual competition, Hiremath said: 'We are trying to find a peaceful language in today's troubled times.'
'Most often a verbal duel turns offensive and leads to physical fights. Thus we want to encourage people to make their habit of abusing or scolding fellow human beings without any malice and thereby also enjoy and have fun in the process,' said Manju Tarangi, a member of the organising committee.
'Friendly bantering should be encouraged between people to vent their anger,' Tarangi added.
Almost 15 years back, a similar contest was held in Hubli, a commercial centre in north Karnataka.
'In 1993, a similar kind of event was held in Hubli. It attracted some 700 participants and went on for hours. Spectators had a great time then. We too have succeeded in recreating the same kind of magic and fun through war of words,' Hiremath said.
'In view of the success of this competition, we plan to hold the event every year,' he said.
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