Rs 15 cr to be spent on Mysuru Dasara

The state government on Monday decided to organise Naada Habba Dasara in Mysuru in a traditional manner.

Dasara festivities will be held from September 21 to 30 this year. The government will release Rs 15 crore for this purpose. Last year, Rs 13 crore was spent. “The festivities will be organised in a traditional manner depicting Kannada and culture. Efforts will be made to attract tourists from across the globe,” he told reporters after chairing the meeting of a high-level committee set up to organise Dasara.

Dasara will be inaugurated on September 21 at 9.15 am atop Chamundi Hills. Jamboo Savari will be held on September 30. The stretch of road between Mysuru Palace and Bannimantap, where Jamboo Savari passes, has already been relaid with concrete. Directions have been issued to the officials to develop all major roads in Mysuru city by September. The government will release Rs 10 crore for this purpose, he added.

Directions have been issued to keep all stalls ready for Dasara exhibitions. Around 20 departments of the government will set up stalls, projecting their achievements. The Tourism department has been entrusted with the responsibility of publicising the event. Road shows will be conducted in London, Paris, Bangkok and Singapore in order to attract tourists. Steps will be taken to sell tickets for viewing Jamboo Savari and torch-light parade online, he added.

The chief minister said he will look into a demand to exempt entry tax for tourist vehicles during Dasara. The high-level committee has authorised the chief minister to decide who should inaugurate Dasara. A decision in this regard will be taken in a week’s time.

3 jumbos to debut in Dasara this yr
Three new elephants, attached to the Mattigodu elephant camp in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, have been selected to take part in this year’s jamboo savari, reports DHNS from Mysuru. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has approved the participation of 17-year-old Bheema, Krishna, 56, and Drona 35 in the annual Vijayadashami procession.