K'taka plans to celebrate Dasara with a difference

Bangalore, Aug 20 (UNI) Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje today said the Dasara festival would be celebrated in the state in a different way with a people-specific themes like farmers' Dasara this year.

Ms Karandlaje told reporters here that the ten-day festival would involve people from all sections of the society like farmers, women and children.

She said for the first time in the history of the festival, the procession would be led by an elephant Balaram, carrying Goddess Chamundeshwari followed by the cultural floats.

The farmers' Dasara would be inaugurated by former President Abdul Kalam, she said and added the main festival would be inaugurated by Shivakumarswamy of Siddhaganga Math of Tumkur.

UNI SIV MDG RL ND2006