Arrangements in top gear for Mysore Dasara festivities

Mysore, Sep 10: The Karnataka Government has geared up to celebrate the world famous Dasara festivities in this historic city by organising various programmes, including Yuva Dasara, Air show, mega music festival and sporting events from September 23.

The grand festivities, to be conducted as a 'Nada Habba' (State festival), would kick off from atop Chamundi hills, with a special pooja to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the principal deity of Mysore.

District incharge Minister D T Jayakumar said various committees had been formed to take up the works in advance to celebrate the event in a grand manner on the eve of Suvarna Karnataka.

Deputy Commissioner S Selva Kumar told UNI that this year, Yuva Dasara had been made more attractive with leading artists, including noted playback singer Hariharan agreeing to take part. Yuva Dasara, started three years ago to attract the youth to the culturally rich festival, received tremendous response with every passing year.

The programmes would start with the 'Star Night' on September 25, with a presentation by Pratichi of Viva fame. A musical extravaganza would be held on September 26 when Hariharan and his troupe would enthrall the crowds at the Mysore University open air theatre.

Karunya and Bimal Jain from Mumbai, who became a familiar name through television programme 'Indian Idol', would stage their show on September 27. Ravi Shankar of 'Yedhe Tumbi Haduvenu' fame, Sunitha of 'TVS Saregama' fame and music director Edwin would perform in the event 'Swara Sinchana' on September 30.

Among the other attractions would be Punjabi Bhangra, Manipuri dance, Dandiya Raas of Gujarat and Chaau of Bihar, performed by artistes of South Zone Cultural Centre at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu.

Students from Ladakh would also perform folk dances.

The nine-day mega music festivities would begin on the evening of the Dasara opening day in front of the illuminated Mysore Palace, with participants from across the country.

The Dasara airshow that had gained popularity would be held at the Bannimantap Parade Grounds on September 28 and the rehearsal show would be conducted on the previous day. The Dasara Festivities Committee had requested the Indian Air Force to bring a full-fledged force and display its might. However, as the IAF had accepted another programme, the authorities were forced to retain the aircraft that were displayed last year and the arrival of Surya Kirans had not been confirmed yet.

To add to the attractions, the Mysore Heritage Centre Tourism Institute along with the State Tourism department would revive the horse buggy culture in the heritage city during the Dasara events this year. The district authorities were also organising a heritage walk to take tourists through Mysore's culture.

A wide range of horticultural plants would be on display at the Curzon Park as part of the Dasara flower show, besides a dog show on September 30.

In an effort to create awareness about karate and wrestling, the authorities have organised a State-level Karate championship and national-level wrestling competition from September 23. One of the unique aspects of the Karate championship, to be held here for the first time, was that players from outside the city would be hosted at the residences of local players, a novel way of promoting the home stay concept.

The wrestling competition was likely to attract a number of grapplers from all over the country, which included the traditional Wrestling of the erstwhile Maharaja's days.

The cultural programmes have been arranged at various places, including Mysore Palace, Jaganmohana Palace Auditorium, Kalamandira, Town Hall, Rangayana and Veene Seshana Bhavan, in which hundreds of artistes would perform. A food festival would be organised from September 23 to October one at Town Hall, where the cuisines of various regions of the country would be served.

UNI