Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara this year

Booker prize-2025 winner Banu Mushtaq will inaugurate the Dasara festivities atop Chamundi Hill in Mysuru on September 22, announced Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking in Bengaluru on Friday, he said that an invitation to the writer will be extended by the Mysuru district administration soon. Ms. Musthtaq has involved herself in farmers’ struggles, several progressive movements and fought for the cause of Kannada, said the Chief Minister. The writer, who is also a lawyer, won the Booker for her translated short story collection “Heart Lamp.”

Ms. Mushtaq, who is currently on a visit to Bahrain, received information about the government’s decision through friends. “I am happy on being invited to inaugurate the festival,” she said over phone.

The Chief Minister also said that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had given green signal for holding airshow during Dasara festivities, and a letter had been written to Mr. Singh, inviting him to witness the annual event, which would be held for 11-days this year.