Mysuru: Dasara is here and it is that time of the year when the heritage city of Mysuru, with its majestic Mysore Palace, royal mansions, public buildings, gardens, water bodies and planned markets, comes alive. It will be 408th Dasara Navaratri that was started by erstwhile Mysore kingdom in 1610 AD — an unbroken tradition. The festival will begin tomorrow, reminding everyone of us not to lose sight of history and traditions.

Dasara celebrations have been rechristened as ‘Nada Habba’ (State festival) by democratically elected governments after the country became a republic and this gives a golden chance for the political class to inaugurate a host of events at different venues and bask in glory.   

The festival will be inaugurated at 8.45 am tomorrow in the auspicious Tula Lagna atop the Chamundi Hill by Nadoja Padma Shri Kokkare Hosahalli Sheik Haider Nissar Ahmed, popular as Prof. K.S. Nissar Ahmed. Ahmed, the gifted “Nityotsava Poet,” will be accompanied by CM Siddharamaiah and a host of leaders including Mysuru District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait, Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree, Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge, Muzarai Minister Rudrappa Manappa Lamani and Karnataka Legislative Council Dy. Chairman Marithibbegowda. MLA G.T. Devegowda will preside.

After the inauguration, the CM will inaugurate the Police Helpline Kiosk and Dasara Sports at Chamundi Hill. The Sports Torch will be lit by city’s own Chess Grand Master M.S. Thejkumar in the presence of Sports Minister Pramod Madhwaraj. In the evening at 6, the CM will inaugurate Cultural Programmes at the illuminated Mysore Palace and will present ‘Sangeetha Vidwan’ Award to Vidu. A. Rajamma Keshavamurthy of Chikmagalur.

PREPARATIONS ATOP CHAMUNDI HILL

The centuries-old Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hill and the steps and side walls leading to the Hill have been freshly painted for the festival. The entire campus of the temple has been decorated with traditional chappara and thaliru-thorana. A giant stage will be set up for the dignitaries to inaugurate the festival. The main street leading to the temple has been illuminated.

The “Utsava Murthi” of Goddess Chamundeshwari was brought out this morning and was thoroughly cleaned along with silver chariot. Temple vessels and the equipment to conduct religious rituals were also cleaned under the supervision of Chief Priest Dr. N. Shashishekar Dixit.

Puja rituals at the temple will begin at 5.30 am tomorrow with Panchamrutha Abhisheka, Archane, Navaratri Yantra Puja (Kalasa Puja) and Suhasini Puja. Prasadam will be distributed to devotees after the mangalarathi. In the evening, Durbar Utsava will be held for the Goddess along with other rituals including Abhisheka, Yantra Puja and Mahamangalarathi.

The District Administration has refurbished two View Points at a cost of Rs. 40 lakh that will enable tourists to have a bird’s eye view of the city. While one View Point has been set up at the junction between Nandi Statue road and the Chamundi Hill road, the other one has been set up near the WELCOME sign on the same stretch.

Two special high-definition binoculars procured at a cost of Rs. 15 lakh each will enable tourists to have a better view of the city. The View Points have been constructed as per international standards following the models of such platforms at other View Points. Over 10 to 15 people can stand on the platform that has been secured by metal railings at the sides.