Open Street Festival gets bigger on KR Boulevard

Dasara Open Street festival, scheduled for October 13, gets bigger this year with the change in the venue from D Devaraja Urs Road to Krishnaraja Boulevard.

The concept, introduced last year for the first time to mark World Tourism Day, in the city, had received a huge response. In view of avoiding inconvenience to the commercial establishments on Devaraja Urs Road, to provide a spacious venue for the event and to facilitate ample parking space to the visitors, the organisers have zeroed in on Krishnaraja Boulevard.

The district administration conducted the first two editions of the Open Street Festival on Devaraj Urs Road, during Dasara in September to mark World Tourism Day and during Winter festival in December, in 2017. The objective was to attract more number of tourists. The Open Street Festival on Krishnaraja Boulevard will be the third edition.

The Krishnaraja Boulevard is about one kilometre long, beginning from the underbridge junction near Ballal Circle, and ends at Hunsur Road junction. It is also one of the roads identified for its heritage value. It is dotted with many historic buildings like Oriental Library, Maharaja’s College, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Court complex and Yuvarajas College. The majestic Crawford Hall of the University of Mysore is also located here.

Though the festival, last year, was a huge hit both the times, there was opposition from the trading community as they had to close the commercial establishments on the particular days, which affected their business, especially during Dasara, when tourists inflow is high.

But, this year the district administration has taken a prudent decision by selecting the Boulevard, which is around 1,200 ft wide at some points, and less traffic density. Most importantly, ample parking space is available in the vicinity. It is also convenient for vendors to spread their shops by the roadsides. One gets almost everything from piping hot filter coffee, chat items, samosas and south Indian delicacies to pamper your taste buds, temporary tattoo shops, paintings and others. The double road has an ample space to host cultural programmes, to make the day memorable.