Mysuru Dasara will be celebrated for 11 days this year

In a rare instance, the world famous Mysuru Dasara will be celebrated for 11 days this year, as against the usual 10 days. Dasara has been celebrated for 11 days on eight occasions earlier.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who heads the high-powered committee to oversee the festival celebrations, told officials of Public Works, Energy, Home, and other departments to make all preparations in advance to conduct the festival on a grand scale from September 22 to October 2.

Grand celebrations

As the State has received bountiful rains, the festival would be celebrated grandly, Mr. Siddaramaiah said. As Vijayadashami this year falls on Gandhi Jayanti, the Chief Minister instructed the executive committee that the procession of tableaus should focus on Gandhian values.

According to tradition, Navaratri starts the day after the Mahalaya Amavasya, which this year falls on September 21. Hence, Navaratri would begin on September 22. However, with Panchami falling on two consecutive days (September 26 and 27) in the lunar calendar, the festival stretches to 10 nights and 11 days.

The Gajapayana will commence on August 4, and Dasara celebrations will be inaugurated on September 22 atop the Chamundi Hills.

The meeting was attended by Ministers, MLAs, and senior officials, and the Chief Minister told the police to be civil in crowd management and take steps to avoid any stampede during the festival. The Chief Minister said about 10 lakh people/tourists are expected to attend this year’s festival.

Who is to inaugurate

On inviting a special guest to inaugurate the festival, the Chief Minister said party leaders Pushpa Amarnath suggested a woman should inaugurate the festival this year, while some others suggested inviting a person who practices Gandhian principles. He would decide the guest in the next 15 days, the Chief Minister said.

The Energy Department has been told to illuminate the city of Mysuru for 22 days. The PWD officials were told to spruce up all roads in and around Mysuru.

A sum of ₹40 crore was spent on conducting various events during last year’s Dasara. The executive committee would plan the programmes and funds would be released as per the requirement, the Chief Minister said.