To be a cost-effective celebration; plans afoot to host air show; tableaux of five guarantee schemes

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddharamaiah announced that the Government is all set to organise this year’s Mysuru Dasara ‘Nada Habba’ from Oct. 15 to 24 in a more meaningful and grand manner that will be a memorable and a convenient experience to the masses. Speaking to reporters at the conference hall of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru last evening after the High-Power Committee meeting specifically focused on planning the upcoming Dasara celebrations, Siddharamaiah said that funds will not be a constraint for a grand and meaningful Dasara.

The CM, however, asked the elected representatives and the officers not to splurge money unnecessarily. Last year, Rs. 33 crore was spent on the festivities, Siddharamaiah added.

“Mysuru Dasara, celebrated as the State festival, has always been a grand affair, showcasing Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage and traditions along with the splendid reminiscence of royal pomp and glory. I believe that Dasara should not only be a traditional festival but also transform into a people’s festival and this time, funds will not be a problem,” he said.

The Dasara Executive Committee will submit a proposal outlining the required funds for the festivities, and the Government will make decisions accordingly. The celebrations will commence with the inauguration ceremony at the Chamundi Hill on Oct. 15 at 10.15 am. “The auspicious time between 10.15 to 10.36 am will be chosen to offer prayers to the presiding deity, Goddess Chamundeshwari. On the same day, the Dasara exhibition will also be inaugurated, adding to the array of attractions available for visitors during the festive period,” the CM said. One of the highlights will be the inclusion of an air show this year.

He asked the officers to showcase the State’s resources in the exhibition where all the Departments will set up stalls to display their contributions. The festival is renowned for its vibrant light decorations across Mysuru, captivating processions and the famous Jumboo Savari on Oct. 24, featuring a procession of elegantly adorned elephants.

In addition to these attractions, the event will also feature eye-catching tableaux carefully selected to showcase the State’s traditions, various districts’ unique aspects and the implementation of the Government’s five guarantee schemes thereby offering an informative and visually appealing experience for the spectators.

Women participation

“This year’s festivities will witness a significant participation of women from all over State, thanks to the Shakti scheme, which offers free bus travel to them. With this in mind, adequate arrangements will have to be made to ensure that visitors, including women, do not face any inconvenience during the celebrations,” he added.

Other key attractions include torchlight parade, cultural events, film festival, Raita Dasara and Yuva Dasara. These events have always been instrumental in displaying Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage through various folk-art forms, attracting a large number of tourists and spectators.

Alongside the traditional practices like Gajapayana (elephants’ procession), the event will also feature special lighting arrangements — Deepalankara — which will illuminate the city from the day of Dasara inauguration. The stunning display of lights will continue for an entire week after the culmination of the festivities, creating a magical and festive ambiance, the CM said.

Local talent preference

Siddharamaiah also stressed the importance of promoting local artistes and providing them priority in cultural programmes. “Promoting local talent and culture is crucial and preference must be given to local artistes in all performances during the celebrations. College students will be provided ample opportunities to showcase their talents during Yuva Dasara,” he said.

On the proposed air show, the CM said that he will discuss this with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In line with usual practice, Dasara will also be organised in Srirangapatna and Chamarajanagar, ensuring that the celebrations spread beyond Mysuru and extend to other regions.

“Ensure that Dasara remains grand but cost-effective. With well-thought-out plans and arrangements, this year’s festival must be a memorable and joyous celebration, cherished by both locals and tourists alike,” he added.

Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka Vandita Sharma, District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Mysuru Mayor Shivakumar, Mysuru DC Dr. K.V. Rajendra, Mysuru City Police Commissioner B. Ramesh, Political Secretary to Chief Minister K. Govindaraj and others attended the meeting.

DASARA 2023: IMPORTANT DATES

• Inauguration: Oct. 15 between 10.15 am and 10.36 am (Vruschika Lagna)
• Rituals at Mysore Palace: Oct. 15 between 6.30 pm and 7.15 pm (Mesha Lagna).
• Gajapayana: Sept. 1 at Veeranahosahalli between 9.45 am and 10.15 am (Tula Lagna).
• Reception at Palace: Sept. 4 between 6 pm and 6.30 pm (Kumbha Lagna Godhooli time).

Goddess Chamundeshwari decoration

• Oct 16   : Bramhacharini Roopa
• Oct. 17  : Chandraghanta Devi
• Oct. 18  : Kooshmanda Devi
• Oct. 19  : Skanda Maathe
• Oct. 20  : Kathyayini Roopa and Saraswathi Puja
• Oct. 21  : Kaalaratri and Mahishasura Samhara
• Oct. 22  : Durgashtami Siddhidatri
• Oct. 23  : Mahanavami and Ayudha Puja, Gajashadhwi Puja, Hayagriva Puja, Amalu Devatha Puja and Maha Gowri Puja.

Vijayadashami Oct. 24 : Nandi Dhwaja Puja by CM between 1.46 pm and 2.08 pm (Makara Lagna).

Procession till Bannimantap: Oct. 24 between 4.40 pm and 5 pm (Meena Lagna) where  flower petals will be showered on Goddess Chamundeshwari seated inside Golden Howdah atop Ambari elephant.

Torchlight Parade: Oct. 24 after the Dasara procession

Rathotsava: Oct. 26: Atop Chamundi Hill

Return of elephants to forests: Oct. 26 between 10.40 am and 11 am (Dhanur Lagna).

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Dasara procession must not be a political rally, opines MLA G.T. Devegowda

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has been authorised by the Dasara High-Powered Committee to choose the chief guest for the Dasara inauguration and the CM’s assurance that he will be personally involved in the selection process.

At the meeting, Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa asked the CM to consider the name of Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji to inaugurate the festivities considering the Seer’s wide social service that extends in various fields like education, food, culture and art.

However, sources said that the meeting did not discuss any names of the guests who will do the inaugural honours. “I will discuss with people and decide on the guest’s name,” the CM said. 

Speaking at the meeting, Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD) said that as lakhs of people from both within the country and abroad will gather to witness this grand procession, the confusion and last-minute lapses must be avoided this time.

The event will also witness the presence of Supreme Court and High Court Judges, as well as the Governor, among other prominent personalities. As a result, extra care should be taken to ensure the smooth conduct of the Jumboo Savari, he noted.

There should be no disturbances or disruptions during the procession and the cultural events should be well-organised to ensure smooth execution and provide a delightful experience to the people. “During my tenure as the District Minister, I did not give opportunities to party leaders or workers to participate in the procession. It must not be a political rally,” GTD said.

The procession must be filled with genuine devotees and there must not be any unpleasant incidents, he added.

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Mysore/Mysuru: District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa said that Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has directed the authorities for starting Dasara preparations and that the Dasara High Powered Committee meeting will be held at the end of this month.

Speaking to presspersons ahead of taking part in the Mysuru Graduates Co-operative Bank Centenary celebrations here this morning, Dr. Mahadevappa, replying to a question on whether Mahisha Dasara celebrations will be allowed this year, said that the Constitution has given religious freedom and as such, that freedom cannot be curtailed. He maintained that it is left to the belief of the people to celebrate Mahisha Dasara.

Commenting on JD(S) leader and former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy’s threat of releasing pen-drive on corruption charges against Congress Ministers, Dr. Mahadevappa said that Kumaraswamy must make charges only with supporting documents in hand and not simply fire in the air, just to scare the Government.

Referring to reservation hike, the Minister said the reservation cap must not exceed 50 percent. Reservation must be provided to all needy castes and communities only within the purview of the Constitution, he added.

Asserting that the Congress Government is on the path of fulfilling all poll promises, Dr. Mahadevappa said all the five pre-poll guarantees will be implemented for which necessary allocations have been made in the Budget by the CM. The registration for ‘Yuva Nidhi’ (monthly allowance for unemployed graduates and diploma holders) will  begin soon, he added.

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Programme details to be presented to CM Siddharamaiah at High-Power Committee meeting in Bengaluru

Mysore/Mysuru: A preliminary Dasara meeting that was held this morning at the office of the Mysuru Palace Board has set the agenda for the 2023 Dasara celebrations.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra and comprised City Police Commissioner Ramesh Banoth, Superintendent of Police Seema Latkar, Zilla Panchayat CEO K.M. Gayathri, Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner G. Lakshmikantha Reddy and Palace Board Deputy Director T.S. Subramanya.

The meeting was called to discuss the preparations for Dasara 2023 and served as a preliminary discussion before the Dasara High Power Committee meeting, scheduled to be chaired by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah in Bengaluru. The High-Power Committee meeting will be held at Vidhana Soudha after the ongoing Assembly session.

This year, the festival will be celebrated from Oct. 15 to Oct. 24 and the grand finale of the festival will be marked by Vijayadashami on Oct. 24. Navarathri celebrations will start from Oct. 15 (Sunday), Ayudha Pooja on Oct. 23 (Monday) and Vijayadashami on Oct. 24 (Tuesday).

Today’s meeting discussed the agenda for the celebrations and the Deputy Commissioner directed the officers to make a detailed presentation on the festivities, its essential components, public festival, exhibitions, Palace festival, dates of inauguration and the VIPs who will participate in the celebrations and the inauguration guest.

The High-Power Committee will discuss the modalities and forms of celebrations along with the regular and traditional practices at the Mysore Palace that have been in force since centuries. The meeting will also finalise on the timings of Dasara inauguration, procession, Nandi Dhwaja puja and Pushpaaarchane and Jumboo Savari timings.

Elephant team

During today’s meeting, officials noted that the Dasara elephants have to be brought to the city three months in advance. Normally, 12 elephants are sourced from various elephant camps and the mahouts, kavadis and their families are accommodated in more than 50 sheds within the Mysore Palace premises.

The elephants undergo training and receive nutritious food to enhance their weight and strength. Traditionally, around 250 to 300 family members and relatives of the elephant keepers reside in the sheds inside the Palace.

The DC asked officials to prepare the minutes of this meeting and present them at the upcoming Dasara High Power Committee meeting. The final decisions regarding the celebration’s arrangements, budget and other aspects like the festival’s organisation, budget, development projects and the scale of the celebrations will be made during the meeting with the CM.

After the High-Power Committee meeting in the State capital, a meeting with the elected representatives of Mysuru, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and allied Departments will be held in Mysuru to work out the finer details of the celebrations and implement the decisions taken by the High-Power Committee.

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• Dasara Brand Value to be a highlight
• Rs. 10 crore Budget through MUDA
• Publicity blitzkrieg at all Metro cities
• Exhibition to start a fortnight ahead  

Mysore/Mysuru: Here is another chance for Mysuru to cash in on its ‘Brand Value’ after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Yoga performance from the ramparts of Mysore Palace on June 21 as part of the International Day of Yoga. The State Government has again stressed ‘Brand Mysuru’ during 2022 Dasara which will be celebrated in a full-fledged manner after two years of pandemic-induced hiatus.

This year’s Dasara will be celebrated outside the Mysore Palace and the entire city of Mysuru and neighbouring places like Srirangapatna and Chamarajanagar too will soak in Dasara colours.

Dasara grants of Rs. 10 crore will be released through the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and the expenses of Palace Dasara activities will be borne by the Mysuru Palace Board. Additional funds will be released by the Government if there is a requirement. Srirangapatna and Chamarajanagar Dasara will get Rs. 1 crore each.

The Mysuru DC has been authorised to accept funds that come through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Dasara illumination expenditure will be borne by the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC). 

 Chairing the Dasara High Powered Committee meeting at Vidhana Soudha last evening, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, accompanied by senior officers and a host of elected representatives from Mysuru took a decision on a grand Dasara celebration where aggressive publicity for the festival will be done over the next two to three months.

“We will create the ‘Mysuru Dasara’ brand and go for an international publicity campaign to make it a major global event. We will also publicise the event in all metro cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi and the Commissioner of Information and Public Relations Department has been instructed to hold publicity campaigns,” the CM said.

The Government has also decided that the Mysuru Dasara emblem should be published in all Government advertisements, notifications and social  media platforms.

Many events, like a grand Gajapayana — marking the entry of the elephants from the jungles to the Mysore Palace — that is part of the main festival and that had to be made simple due to COVID, will also resume. This year, the Gajapayana will be held on Aug. 7

 The traditional Gajapayana involving villagers and forest dwellers would draw greater participation of the rural masses, Bommai said. As for cultural events, it has been decided to encourage local talent and performance by at least one national-level artist daily, the CM said. This year, there are plans to start the Mysuru Dasara exhibition 15 days ahead of the festival, he added.

Mysuru Tourism Circuit

A Government Order on ‘Mysuru Tourism Circuit’ would be issued within a week and tourism promotion programmes would be formulated by the Tourism Department in association with private players. The circuit would include Belur, Halebeedu and other places. The proposal of Tourism Circuit has already been mentioned in the Budget and plans will be formulated to implement the same.

An all-inclusive single ticket package covering travel, accommodation and other aspects would be introduced. An exclusive website too is being developed for this purpose. This would complement the initiatives for Mysuru Dasara. With one ticket, a tourist will be able to spend 3-5 days inclusive of travel and stay. This can be made use of during the Dasara, the CM said, adding that a similar order will be issued for a Hampi Tourism Circuit.

Delay in Expressway works

Mysuru District Minister S.T. Somashekar said that the CM will decide on the Dasara guest. On the inauguration of the 10-lane Expressway between Mysuru and Bengaluru during Dasara, the CM said that the works had been delayed due to heavy rain. “The road will be inaugurated one month after Dasara,” Bommai said.

 Dasara Authority

 Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda has again demanded the formation of the Dasara Authority. He told the meeting that the elected representatives from Mysuru have been demanding Dasara Authority for many years but the Government has not taken any decision on that.

Dasara Authority would streamline the way the festivities are conducted in coordination with several departments, agencies and public, where immediate decisions can be taken on the celebrations, finance and other aspects, the MLA added.                 

MLA S.A. Ramdas urged the meeting to take the Dasara celebrations to an international level by writing about the festival to the ambassadors of different countries who are in India. He also urged to highlight the 75 years of India’s independence and also display the advancements in military science as achieved in India thus far.

Mayor Sunanda Palanetra, MP Pratap Simha, MLAs Tanveer Sait, L. Nagendra, S.R. Mahesh, B. Harshavardhan, K. Mahadev, H.P. Manjunath, Ravindra Srikantaiah, MLCs A.H. Vishwanath, C.N. Manjegowda, Dr. D. Thimmaiah, Madhu Madegowda, MUDA Chairman (now ceased) H.V. Rajeev, DC Dr. Bagadi Gautham, City Police Commissioner Dr. Chandragupta, Palace Board Deputy Director T.S. Subramanya were present.

DASARA 2022: IMPORTANT DATES

• Inauguration: Sept. 26 between 9.45 am to 10.05 am (Vruschika Lagna) and inauguration through Shailavrutha Puja.
• Rituals at Palace: Sept. 26 between 5.45 pm to 6.30 pm (Meena Lagna).
• Gajapayana: Aug. 7 at Veeranahosahalli between 9.01 am to 9.35 am (Kanya Lagna). Reception at Palace on Aug. 10 between 9.20 am to 10 am (Kanya Lagna).
• Goddess Chamundeshwari decoration: Sept. 27: Bramhacharini Roopa, Sept. 28: Chandraghanta Devi, Sept. 29: Kooshmanda Devi, Sept. 30: Skanda Maathe, Oct. 1: Kathyayini, Oct. 2: Kaalaratri, Oct. 3: Durgashtami Siddhidhaatri, Oct. 4: Mahagowri.
• Mahanavami Ayudha Puja: Oct. 4.
• Vijayadashami: Oct. 5; Nandi Dhwaja Puja by Chief Minister between 2.36 pm and 2.50 pm (Makara Lagna).
• Procession till Bannimantap: Oct. 5 between 5.07 pm and 5.18 (Meena Lagna).
• Torchlight Parade: Oct. 5 after the Dasara procession
• Return of elephants to forests: Oct. 7 between 6.30 am and 6.45 am (Kanya Lagna).
• Rathotsava atop Chamundi Hill: Oct. 9.

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Mysore/Mysuru: Mysuru District Minister S.T. Somashekar has said that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will chair the Dasara High Power Committee meeting at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on July 19 at 4 pm.

Speaking to media persons here yesterday, he said that the meeting will be attended by officials from Mysuru District Administration, Ministers and other concerned top officials.

Announcing that a meeting will be held later this month to discuss measures to further boost tourism in Mysuru region, Somashekar said that another round of meeting will be held in connection with the establishment of Film City near Mysuru, which will be attended by the CM, Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, top officials and Tourism  Industry stakeholders.

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Mysore/Mysuru: The Dasara High-Power Committee meeting to discuss this year’s Dasara Nada Habba celebrations will be held in Bengaluru after July 10, said Mysuru District Minister S.T. Somashekar.

Speaking to reporters in city yesterday, he said that the meeting will be chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and will decide on the conduct of the festival, budget, development works and the scale of the celebrations. The 2020 and 2021 Dasara was restricted to the Palace due to COVID-19 pandemic and the festival scale was curtailed and only the illumination part was given importance.

“After the High-Power Committee meeting in the State capital, a meeting with the elected representatives of Mysuru, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and allied Departments will be held in Mysuru to work out the finer details of the celebrations and implement the decisions taken by the High-Power Committee,” he said.

All the Departments and stakeholders will be asked to tread a cautious path as it is raining continuously and the monsoon is only bound to pick up pace in the coming days.

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Bengaluru: In a bid to clear the air over the nature of Dasara celebrations this year in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, a meeting of Dasara High Power Committee has been scheduled to take place at the Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, at 4 pm on Sept. 3.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will chair the meeting, which will be attended by Mysuru District Minister S.T. Somashekar, Kannada and Culture Minister Sunil Kumar, Mysuru DC Dr. Bagadi Gautham and other top officials of Mysuru.

Last year, the Dasara celebrations was limited to Mysore Palace premises following the outbreak of pandemic. The Sept. 3 meeting assumes significance as the meeting is likely to finalise the nature of Dasara celebrations, popularly known as the State’s Naada Habba, in the wake of COVID crisis, which has continued to cause havoc.

The Forest Department officials, who have prepared a list of 14 elephants for Dasara which is to take place in October, are likely to apprise the CM on their opinion regarding the conduct of Dasara. 

Likewise, the DC, Department officials  and officials from all other stakeholder Departments, too will come out with their opinion during the meeting.

After gathering inputs at the meeting,  Chief Minister  Bommai will weigh the opinions received from political leaders, officials, personalities  and all other stakeholders, before deciding on the nature of celebrations, it is learnt.

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