Dasara heritage walk evokes enthusiastic response

The heritage walk in traditional attire (“Paramparika udugeyalli paramparika nadige) organised as part of Dasara celebrations, evoked a good response from people, not only from the city, but also from other places.

The Archaeology Museums and Heritage department, which has been organising heritage walks for the past 14 years, hosted the walk on Thursday. On Friday, Heritage Cycle Ride will be held while Heritage Tonga Ride will be held on Saturday.

People started gathering on the premises of C V Rangacharlu Town Hall in the city from 7 am itself in traditional attire. While most of the men sported a dhoti, white shirt and turban, women were draped in silk sarees.

The turban, Mysuru Peta, was prominently visible among the walkers. The department had received advance registration from 350 people.

Apart from Mysureans, heritage enthusiasts from other places including Bengaluru also took part in the event. Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh flagged off the walk.

Yadugiriyamma and other members of Senior Citizens Fourm, a few of them aged above 80, were also part of the walk.

Retired professor of Archeology and Ancient History N S Rangaraju and chronicler Echanuru Kumar were the resource persons.

The walk started from the Town Hall and traversed the Silver Jubilee Clock Tower, Freemasons Club, Tenth Chamaraja Wadiyar Circle, Mysuru Palace, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Circle, Dufferin Clock (Chikkagadiyara), Devaraja Market, Krishnaraja Hospital, Chamarajendra Technical Institute (Kaveri Emporium), Government Ayurveda College and Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute.

S N Roopasri, an entrepreneur from Mumbai, said, she flew down to the city, just to be a part of the heritage walk in a traditional dress.

A native of Sringeri, Roopasri said, “I read the news about the heritage walk in the Deccan Herald epaper and wanted to be a part of it. So, I contacted Dakshayani, my sister, who is a bank employee in Mysuru. I asked her to enrol me for the walk, but she said the registration was over. However, I was bent upon participating in the event. Thus I came down. I explained about my wish to be a part of the walk and my inability to enrol, Fortunately, the organisers allowed me,” she said.