Prayers at AIDSamma temple for awareness

The festival was more of an awareness programme through a religious mode, Girish said, adding:

8220;It is not the means but the end which matters most as far as tackling the dreaded disease is concerned.8221;

Stalls were pitched around the temple and handbills and banners were tied toeducate the masses about the spread and prevention of the dreaded disease. Vidya Shankar spoke to the villagers about the prevention of AIDS and the human approach needed while dealing with such patients.

A poster exhibition was also organised to depict the indiscriminate spread of the disease. Earlier, the students of a government school and villagers, including women and children, took out a massive rally through the village.Magic shows, a poster writing exhibition, composing of songs on AIDS awareness were also held for the school children.

A public interaction with the rural people was the highlight of the event.