Mysuru Dasara to focus on water conservation this year

Ministers H.C. Mahadevappa, H.S. Mahadeva Prasad and Priyank Kharge, who are part of the Dasara Executive Committee, met with MLAs and officials to discuss this year's Mysuru Dasara. Photo: M.A. Sriram

The famed Mysuru Dasara will take a theme-based approach this year with focus on water conservation in a bid to go green.

The festival, which draws tourists in the thousands, is seen as an ideal platform to promote environmental awareness besides infusing visitors with eco-friendly messages.However, details related to promoting the theme and conservation issues will be finalised by the various sub committees that will be constituted in due course.

The zing of the Naada Habba will be back with Yuva Dasara, while the authorities will launch the Dasara website on August 16. Gajapayana, the traditional march of the elephants from the jungle camps to the city signalling the countdown for the festival, will be held at Veeranahosahalli, Hunsur, on August 21st.

These decisions were taken by the Dasara Executive Committee that met here on Tuesday. The meeting also finalized some of the decisions taken by the Dasara High Powered Committee, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently.

Endorsing the decision of the Dasara High Powered Committee, which finalised poet Chennaveera Kanavi as the chief guest, the meeting finalised his name and will officially invite him to inaugurate the festival on October 1, 2016, said H.C. Mahadevappa, Minister for Public Works, who is also the district in-charge.

Mr. Mahadevappa told reporters that the government will spend nearly Rs. 14.25 crore for this year’s festivities and the budget includes funding for Dasara-related civic works, including road repairs.

This year’s Dasara will be celebrated in a traditional manner, said the Minister and stopped short of saying it will be a grand affair. “In view of scanty rains in parts of the state, the festival will be held as per tradition, though the government may not use ‘grand’ while promoting it,” said H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, Minister for Cooperation.

But 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 also curtailed in all respects. So, 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 Dasara concerts.

The Gajapayana will commence on August 21st and the elephants will be received at the Mysuru Palace on August 26th and accorded a traditional reception.

Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanvir Sait, Minister for Tourism Priyank Kharge, MLA Vasu, Deputy Commissioner C. Shikha, and officials from different departments attended the meeting.