Cultural capital calling; Dasara opens today

Mysuru: The state’s cultural capital Mysuru is all set for the 11-day grand Dasara festivities.Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Swami of Gavi Mutt, Koppal, will inaugurate the festivities along with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, by offering puja to the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed in a silver ‘mantapa’ at the temple atop Chamundi Hill on Sunday.The ceremony will be held between 11.50 am and 12.13 pm, during the auspicious Dhanur lagna.This is the same idol which will be housed in the golden howdah mounted on the elephant during the Jamboo Savari procession on October 21, Vijayadashami.Over 200 seers from different mutts, heads of different religions and about 2,000 people are expected to be part of the inauguration.Karnataka: A seer’s quiet revolution earns him Dasara spotlightPacked with events at least at 13 venues – cultural programmes, flower show, food mela, book mela, exhibition, yuva, women’s, children’s, farmers’, Yoga, Lalitha Kale-Karakushala Dasara, kusthi, heritage walk/bicycle/tonga ride, Dasara sports and drone show – it has something for all. Coastal specialty sport Kambala is an added attraction this year.The district administration and Dasara executive committee, led by deputy commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy, have made all arrangements to make the festival vibrant as per CM’s directions.The Surya Kiran aerobatic team of Indian Air Force will perform from October 18 to 20.Tableaux in Dasara procession will represent all three wings of the defence forces – army, navy and air force.Besides the star attraction – 13 Dasara jumbos led by Abhimanyu – sandalwood stars and sports achievers will join the procession.Tableaux from neighbouring states and cultural troupes from other parts of India are also expected to take part. Chief ministers of south Indian states and ambassadors of various countries have been invited. Following a campaign taken up by DH and due to the cooperation of DCF K Paramesha, Cesc officials will make the 21-day Dasara illumination eco friendly.Except one, Cesc has decorated all 198 roads of Mysuru, a stretch of 146 km and 123 circles with colourful LED lights. The illumination is estimated to consume 2.6 lakh units of electricity.A view of the illuminated palace in Mysuru ahead of Dasara festivities on Saturday.

Source: Deccan Herald