Heritage city Mysuru all set for grand 10-day Dasara

Mysuru: The heritage city of Mysuru is all decked up for the 10-day cultural extravaganza, world famous Mysuru Dasara, which will be inaugurated atop the Chamundi Hill, on Thursday.

Writer and recipient of Nadoja award Hampa Nagarajaiah will inaugurate the festival on Thursday by offering puja to the idol of Goddess Sri Chamundeshwari, housed in a silver mantapa, on a stage next to Sri Chamundeshwari Devi temple, during the auspicious Vrishchika lagna, between 9.15 am and 9.45 am. It is the same idol, which will be housed in the golden howdah, carried by Dasara elephant Abhimanyu, during the grand Dasara Jamboo Savari procession, on October 12.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Mysuru district in-charge minister H C Mahadevappa, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister Ramalinga Reddy, and Tourism Minister H K Patil will join him. Prior to this, they will offer puja to Goddess Sri Chamundeshwari at the temple.

Later a host of Dasara events will be launched at various venues, across Mysuru city.

In a star-studded event at KSOU Convocation Hall, Dasara film festival, held in memory of actor Dwarakish, will be inaugurated by the CM and DCM.

Actors Ramesh Aravind, Daali Dhananjaya, Sapthami Gowda, Sharanya Shetty, and Akshitha Bhopaiah will join them. Dwarakish's son Yogeesh will be honoured. As part of the fest, 112 movies will be screened in one screen of DRC Cinemas in BM Habitat Mall and three screens of Inox Cinemas in Mall of Mysore, from October 4 to 10.

The CM and DCM will inaugurate Dasara Flower Show at Kuppanna Park (Nishad Bhag) near Jayachamara Wadiyar Circle, which will be held till October 12.

The flower show features over 50,000 pots of over 30 varieties, and several floral models depicting Buddha's Praja Prathinidhi Sabha, Basavanna's Anubhava Mantapa to the Parliament. It will also depict the Karnataka government's five guarantee schemes.

The CM and DCM will launch Dasara Wrestling at Sri Devaraj Urs Multipurpose Stadium on Karnataka Exhibition Authority premises. The CM will inaugurate 90-day Dasara Exhibition. The expo has 20 stalls to depict Mysuru brand GI tag products like Mysore Silk, Mysore Pak and Mysore betel leaves.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa will inaugurate Dasara Food Mela at Maharaja's College Ground. The CM and Kannada and Culture Minister for Shivaraj Tangadagi will launch Dasara cultural programmes in front of the illuminated Mysuru Palace, and 10 other venues, including Jaganmohan Palace, Karnataka Kalamandira, Kiru Rangamandira, Ganabharathi, Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha, Chikkagadiyara, Ramagovinda Rangamandira, Natana Rangamandira and Srikanteshwara temple in Nanjangud.

Minister Tangadagi will launch Fine Arts Dasara, by inaugurating the expo of paintings and sculptures done during the state-level workshop held at Chamarajendra Government College for Arts (CAVA) in Siddartha Nagar. He will launch a live demo and expo of arts and handicrafts by renowned artists. Tangadagi will launch a book mela on Bharath Scouts and Guides ground. He will inaugurate Navarathri Janapada Ranga Utsava at Rangayana.

Harmanpreet Singh who won bronze medal in Paris Olympics will inaugurate Dasara CM cup sports meet at Chamundi Vihar Stadium.

The idol kept at Gombe Thotti of Mysuru Palace was handed over by Palace Board Deputy Director T S Subramanya to Secretary of Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Development Authority M J Roopa on September 16 and it was taken to Chamundi Hill for Dasara inauguration. It will be brought back from the hill to the Palace on October 12 before the procession.

Mysuru DC G Lakshmikanth Reddy said, "The preparations are done for a grand and meaningful Dasara celebrations. People from across the country are welcome to witness the grandeur of Dasara".