The famed Mysuru Dasara will adopt a theme-based approach this year shifting the focus on water conservation in a bid to go green.
The festival which draws tourists in thousands is seen as an ideal platform to promote environmental awareness. However, the details related to promoting the theme and conservation issues will be finalised by the various sub-committees that will be constituted in due course.
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The energy of the Naada Habba will be back with Yuva Dasara while the authorities will launch the Dasara website on August 16. ajapayana, the traditional march of the elephants from the jungle camps to the city signalling the countdown for the festival, will be held at Veeranahosahalli in Hunsur on August 21.
This was decided at the Dasara Executive Committee meeting held here on Tuesday which also finalised some of the decisions taken by the Dasara High Powered Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
At the meeting, the decision of the Dasara High Powered Committee to have poet Chennaveera Kanavi as the chief guest, was finalised. He will officially be invited to inaugurate the festival on October 1 said the Public Works Department Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, who is also the district in-charge Minister.
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Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, Mr. Mahadevappa said the government will spend nearly Rs.14.25 crore on this year’s festivities. The budget includes the funding for Dasara-related civic works including road repairs.
This year’s Dasara will be celebrated in a traditional manner, said the Minister. “In view of the scanty rain in parts of the State, the festival will be held as per tradition, though not on as grand a scale as in previous years,” said Minister for Cooperation H.S. Mahadeva Prasad.
None of the big-ticket programmes will be given a short shrift unlike last year when the festival’s grandeur was not only deemphasised but curtailed in all respects. Yuva Dasara will be back to woo the youth and the new generation, while artistes of national and international repute from across India will be invited to perform for the concerts.
The Gajapayana will commence on August 21 and the elephants will be received at the Mysuru Palace on August 26 and accorded a traditional reception.
Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait, MLA Vasu, Deputy Commissioner C. Shikha and officials from different departments attended the meeting.