Mysuru: This year’s Raitha Dasara took off to a colourful start this morning with farmers being taken on a procession in decorated bullock carts from Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple near the Palace North Gate to JK Grounds.

The procession was inaugurated by ZP CEO P. Shivashankar by offering puja to Nandi Dhwaja. Later, the procession, accompanied by Puja Kunitha, Kamsale, Huli Vesha, Dollu Kunitha, Veeragase and other folk artistes, passed through K.R. Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road, Ayurveda Circle and Irwin Road before culminating at J.K. Ground. It also featured Bandoor sheep which were brought in bullock carts.

On reaching the ground, the stage programme was inaugurated by ZP President Nayeema Suthana. University of Agricultural Sciences Vice Chancellor Dr. H. Shivanna inaugurated the stalls.

The Raitha Dasara, which is aimed at providing information, has stalls set up by sericulture, agriculture, horticulture and forest departments, natural farmers association, companies selling agricultural equipment, tractors, garden tools, fertilisers and others. A variety of special cow breeds are also expected to be exhibited in the exhibition.