It is the Brigade Road of Mysore. The commercial hub of the city Devaraj Urs road has come of age and is ready to outsmart any of the commercial streets of a metropolis — with the influx of trendy stores and presence of all major global brands and their stylish and classic buildings.
For Dasara season, Urs road, the street which dazzles with flashy and colourful lights of shops is lit up more bright with special designer illumination, thanks to the Devaraj Urs Road Tenants and Owners’ Association for they have chipped in to illuminate the road for Dasara.
Although, any core Mysorean would not like to compare any of the city’s roads to their counterparts elsewhere, as they have heritage attached to it, the transformation of Devaraj Urs road in the last few years can’t be ignored.
A walk down the Urs road would excite anyone — young, old and children alike — due to the presence of alluring textile, jewellery, footwears and other outlets. The hustle and bustle of evenings and shopping on this street is relaxing, believe locals.
The Urs road has seen such illumination for the second time, after a gap of four years.
The avenue between K R Circle and JLB road was lit up with running lights in 2008 — giving it a Christmas and New year eve mood of Brigade road in Bangalore.
The illumination last time received good response from the public who loved lights running from one end to the other. Though, the illumination this time is not on a grand scale, the effort of the association is notable. Interestingly, the forum roped in Shankar, who illuminates Brigade road in Bangalore. “We got very less time for mobilisation of support as MCC requested us to light up the road at our own cost.
The forum got major sponsorship from Bhima Jewelleries, Sangeetha Mobile, Yashaswini Silks, Dazzles, Bombay Tiffanys, Krishna and Silk Shop,” Khaja Moinuddin, secretary of the association and proprietor of Silk Shop, a unit of Badsha Stores told Deccan Herald.
Christmas season too
According to him, the forum has plans to illuminate Urs road for Christmas and new year season too.
“We are aware that people want it. If there is a support from our members, we will surely light up the street for new year celebrations. The forum will make efforts to continue the present illumination till Deepavali season,” says Moinnudin who took the initiative.
Ibrahim, owner of Badsha Stores, which deals with silk sarees, fabrics and garments for half a century said with the support of other shopkeepers he illuminated the Visvesvaraiah building near K R Circle. “We (the shopkeepers) are ready to support the MCC for promotion of city as a tourism hub.
The MCC must also provide some basic facilities.
The building with more than 20 showrooms and stores is not maintained properly and do not have a wash room,” he regrets.
