Mysuru abuzz with Dasara events; overwhelming response for film fest, flower show

Mysuru: Mysuru was abuzz with activity on the first day of the 10-day Dasara festivities, that was inaugurated by scholar and writer Hampa Nagarajaiah, in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and a host of dignitaries, atop the Chamundi Hill, on Thursday.

Following the Dasara inauguration, the CM Siddaramaiah arrived at KSOU Convocation Hall to inaugurate Dasara Film Festival. He assured that the much-awaited Film City will be completed within three years.

The Dasara film festival this year is being held in memory of actor-producer Dwarkish. A documentary film, comprising popular scenes of actor Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Shankar Nag, Ambareesh, Ravichandran, Dwarkish and others was screened.

The first day of the Film festival received an overwhelming welcome with the auditorium filled to the brim. Actor, music composer Sadhu Kokila, Ramesh Arvind, Sapthami Gowda and others were also present. The gathering switched on the flash lights of their mobile phones, paying tributes to the late actor Puneeth Rajkumar, when the rendering of the song 'Gombe helutaite...', from the film Rajkumar was played.

Later, Siddaramaiah, along with Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa, inaugurated 'Ahara Mela', at the Maharaja's College Grounds. The stalls at the food mela would be open to public from tomorrow.

The food mela, which was usually held on Scouts and Guides grounds, has been shifted to Maharaja's College grounds, this year to accommodate more stalls. There will be 108 stalls, selling both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in front of a floral replica of the old Parliament house, at the Horticultural flower show, in Mysuru, on Thursday.

The CM also inaugurated the Horticulture Flower show at Kuppanna Park, one of the main attractions of Dasara. The show features the floral replicas of Gauthama Buddha's 'pratinidhi sabhe', 12th century social reformer Basavanna's Anubhava Mantap, and Old Parliament House, among many others. Different concepts, including five guarantees of the government, have been displayed at the flower show.

The day also saw the inauguration of CM-cup sports meet at Chamundi Vihar Stadium and the 90-day Dasara expo at Dasara Exhibition grounds.

The expo has stalls showcasing Mysuru GI products like Mysore silk, Mysore Pak and Mysuru Betel leaves. CM inaugurated the wrestling contest at D Devaraj Urs Multipurpose Stadium, on Dasara Exhibition Ground.

Several other events like sculpture and painting expo at CAVA, Book mela at Scouts and Guides grounds, Navaratri Janapada Ranga Utsava at Bhoomigeetha were inaugurated by Kannada and Culture Minister Shivraj Tangadagi. Energy Minister K J George inaugurated the Dasara illumination at the 'Green Mantap' on Sayyaji Rao Road.