Mysuru Dasara celebrations to be a simple affair this year

Several events generally held during the 10-day festival will either be curtailed or cancelled

The ambiguity on plan for this year’s famous 410th Mysuru Dasara celebration amid the Covid pandemic is likely to be cleared soon.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has already announced that Dasara is going to be a simple event. However, a detailed picture on the celebrations will emerge only after the committee led by the Chief Minister meets this week in Mysuru or next week in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, with 45 days ahead of the festival which will be celebrated from October 17 to 26, new Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru Sharath B. has held an informal meeting with district-level officials to discuss the plans for this year’s celebrations.

The elephants, a major attraction of jumbo savari procession were supposed to have arrived from various forest camps to Mysuru, 60 days in advance for acclimatisation. Two major events to herald the beginning of preparations for Dasara namely Gaja Payana (to fetch Dasara elephants from forest to city) and Gaja Aagamana (to welcome them to Palace courtyards where they will be treated with nutritious food and where they stay along with their caretakers until the end of Dasara) were supposed to have been held by now. But the process of finalising the list of elephants which would be part of this year’s procession, itself is yet to be finalised.

The forest department officials have written to state government in this regard and they are waiting for government’s response.

The 10-day long Dasara cultural extravaganza is packed with programmes at multiple venues in illuminated Mysuru city. It usually begins with offerings of pooja to the idol of Goddess Chamundeswari atop Chamundi hills.

The festival usually concludes with the grand jumbo savari procession witnessed by over 4 lakh people who come to Mysuru from across the state, country and world on Vijayadashami, the 10th day, where in elephant carries idol of Goddess Chamundeswari housed in the 750 kg golden howdah. Along with that is atleast a kilometer-long procession with tableaux depicting Karnataka’s cultural diversity. However, this year jumbo savari procession on October 26 is likely to be restricted to palace premises and it might have very few cultural troupes and there might not be any tableaux.

The finale for the ten-day festivities is usually grand torch light parade witnessed by over 30,000 people at Bannimantap grounds at night on 10th day of Dasara. But this year, torch light parade is likely to be dropped.

Cultural programmes during Dasara every evening infront of the illuminated Mysuru Palace premises, held as a mark of patronage extended by Kings to art, culture and music are likely to be held and shown live through television channels or on social media. Several major programmes at multiple venues which are part of the festivities including Yuva Sambrama, Yuva Dasara, food festival and others which pull over 30,000 people each day, are all likely to be dropped, as per official sources.

However, royal family of Mysuru is preparing for the 10-day traditional Dasara poojas and rituals, which will be held within the palace as a private affair to keep up with their tradition.

● A DETAILED picture on the celebrations will emerge only after the committee led by the Chief Minister meets.