D. Devaraj Urs Road, Mysuru’s commercial hub, looked vibrant as it hosted the city’s first-ever ‘Open Street Festival’, marking World Tourism Day, on Wednesday.
The event, organised by the Tourism Department, got a big thumbs-up from locals and tourists as the concept, which is in vogue in many tourist destinations overseas and in Bengaluru as well, was entirely new for Mysuru.
As music boomed along the long stretch of road, made traffic-free on the occasion, tourists, shoppers and locals leisurely walked around, enjoying purchase, window shopping, playing games, and eating and drinking from food trucks and coffee counters. Even the downpour did not appear to deter many visitors.
With World Tourism Day falling in the middle of the Dasara celebrations, the government decided to celebrate it in a novel way and organised the Open Street Festival, setting aside a special grant for this. Phase 1 Events and Entertainments, the event management firm, put on the show on behalf of the department, an official said.
The street was the same but the mood was unlike that on most days, as people, mostly youngsters, thronged the area from morning to evening. Dancing, eating, shopping and taking selfies was the motto of the day. .
Well-fed visitors
All along the road, decorated with balloons and colourful festoons, food trucks were seen dishing out new-age food such as waffles, fries and ‘innovative’ ice-creams, as well as the classics such as coffee in mud pots and tandoori.
Musical performances and folk artistes kept visitors entertained through the day even as men in stilts became the most sought-after selfie partners.
About 60 makeshift shops were set up along the road. Students of Maharani’s College, which is located off the street, were drawn in by the pulsating music.
Mayor M.J. Ravi Kumar, who represents the ward that includes D. Devaraj Urs Road, described the event as “successful”. He said such events attract tourists who look forward to novel experiences.
The students of Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts put up their artwork along the road while many college students queued up at tattoo stalls to get inked. There were games to keep children entertained as well.
Among the stalls were one educating visitors about keeping our surroundings clean, another selling honey, and one showcasing live pottery making.
Traffic thrown out of gear
The closure of D. Devaraj Urs Road for vehicles created a chaotic situation in the Central Business District. “This is the main arterial road of the city. There is no viable alternative road to Devaraj Urs Road, and this led to chaotic traffic conditions,” said a senior traffic police officer. Traffic snarls were witnessed on Sayyaji Rao Road, Irwin Road, Dhanwantri Road and Ramavilas Road.
Not a new concept
However, the concept of open street is not actually new to Mysuru.
A stretch of Sawday Road from Ashoka Road to K.T. Street goes out of bounds for vehicles ahead of Eid when traders take vantage position on the thoroughfare to sell their wares.
Ahead of Ramzan and Bakrid, a large number of shoppers descend on the stretch of road, which is made off limits for vehicles, to make their purchases for the festival. However, music and entertainment programmes like the ones organised on Devaraj Urs Road are not organised there.
