Mysuru to enthrall visitors as Dasara begins today

Chairperson of Infosys Foundation Sudha Murty will inaugurate Mysuru Dasara atop the Chamundi Hill on Wednesday, in the presence of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and a host of his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs, MLCs and MPs, during the auspicious Tula lagna, between 7.05 and 7.35 am.

Sudha and other dignitaries will inaugurate the celebrations by offering floral tributes to the deity of Chamundeshwari placed in a silver mantapa.

Mysuru Dasara, which was started by Raja Wadiyar at Srirangapatna in 1610, is into the 408th year. Royalty, pomp and gaiety; culture, heritage and traditions; and illumination of the city and its structures, including Mysuru Palace, are the features of Dasara, celebrated as Naada Habba by the government since the mid-1970s.

Over the years, Dasara has evolved with new features and attracts tourists in lakhs.

Dasara is the peak tourist season in Mysuru region. While cultural, religious, spiritual, sports, agrarian, commercial and industrial activities will be held from October 10 to 17, the last two days have fewer events, the focus being Jamboo Savari, the grand finale on October 19.

Arjuna, the mighty elephant, decorated with organic paint and royal robes, will carry the golden howdah, in which the utsava murthy (procession deity) of Chamundeshwari will be placed, from the Palace up to Bannimantap, a 5-km stretch of Rajamarga. The elephants are the main attraction of the procession.

The ministers and all elected representatives were a worried lot as there were doubts over their participation in Dasara in the wake of the model code of conduct for the byelection to Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. KR Nagar Assembly segment of Mysuru district is a part of the constituency. By Tuesday evening, the Election Commission clarified that the code is applicable only to KR Nagar taluk.

Arrangements were underway on Tuesday for the Dasara events. The works on the main stage on the premises of Mysuru Palace, outside Ane Bagilu (elephant entrance), were in the final stages.

The chief minister will present ‘Asthana Vidwan’ award to a renowned musician while inaugurating the cultural events on the Palace premises.

Yuva Dasara, Raitha Dasara, Dasara Wrestling, Women’s Dasara, Children’s Dasara, film festival, Dasara Exhibition, Yoga Dasara, Dasara Poets’ Meet, food festival, Mathsya Mela, Open Street festival, book exhibition and a host of events are lined up. Aqua Sports have been organised at two venues.

The erstwhile royal family celebrates Dasara over the next 10 days. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar will hold a private durbar, restricted to his family members and relatives, at the Durbar Hall of the Palace. He will ascend the golden throne (simhasana) and perform rituals for nine days. On the tenth day, he will perform Banni Puja to mark Vijayadashami.