JOIN USHardly any takers for tickets
In an embarrassment to the decision makers, there has been lukewarm response to buy tickets for cultural pageantry, the Vijayadashami procession and the grand finale of 10-day Dasara festivities, the torchlight parade at Bannimantap grounds scheduled on Oct 17.
Following little interest to buy tickets priced at Rs 1000, Rs 500 for inside the Palace and Rs 200 and Rs 100 for the seating arrangement at the Townhall premises, the Dasara organising committee has converted the tickets into complimentary pass and are distributing them free of cost.
Similar embarrassment for the Manarajan Dasara muddled the authorities the second day. The poor response to ticket system prompted the Dasara office to announce that the entertainment Dasara was open for all sans ticket or pass. “It was not a wise move. The new officers in-charge of Dasara have totally failed to understand the dynamics of the event. Probably, they even failed to understand the people of town,” an official said on condition of anonymity.
Mixed response
When Deccan Herald took stock of another new feature introduced this year, the Dasara Thali, there was mixed response among the foodies and the hoteliers. If some praised the initiative, others said many hoteliers compromised on the quantity or variety for providing the meals at Rs 20.
Another Rs 5 or Rs 10 hike on the meals could have added more items on the menu, few opine. Interestingly, administration prepared the menu comprising a sweet and chapathi, palya, bhath, rice, sambar, rasam and butter milk and circulated it among the hoteliers.
Lakshmi Narayana Rai, owner of Hotel Shivaprasad on Krishna Vilas road told Deccan Herald that there was not so encouraging response to Thali. A very few people who arrived in our hotel asked for Dasara Thali.
“We followed the menu given to us. But, people prefer to have curd, papad and more sambar. We had to deny it by taking pains. Our regular meals is priced at Rs 40 and have three puris, varieties of palya, papad and curd in addition,” he stated.
He opines people don’t mind paying more if they are given good quality, variety and quantity.
While, proprietor of Preeti Sagar on Shivarampet road says he cancelled his regular meals of Rs 25 and made Dasara Thali the only meals available for all ten-days since Oct 8 to avoid confusions and arguments with the customer. There was good response. “Many people were happy with items provided just for Rs 20,” he says and added people do prefer curds.
Hotel Shivaprasad and Mahesh Prasad at Ballal circle did have their regular menu of meals at Rs 40 alongside the Dasara Thali.
More people preferred for ‘full meals’ than Thali.
There are many hotels who discouraged people from going for Thali and many others did not follow it.
