Dasara Begins  

Gavimutt Seer formally inaugurates Nada Habba; D.K. Shivakumar leads fest for first time as CM 

Mysuru: The world-renowned Mysuru Dasara began with traditional rituals atop Chamundi Hill this morning, marking the start of the 416th year of the festival.  

Abhinava Sri Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji of Gavimutt, Koppal, formally inaugurated the festivities by showering flower petals on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, placed on a silver chariot. Adorned with a silk saree, gold and diamond jewellery, the presiding deity was the centre of attraction. 

Gavimutt Seer lit the ceremonial lamp at 12.08 pm during the auspicious Dhanur Lagna between 11.50 am and 12.13 pm, in the presence of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, his wife Usha Shivakumar, District Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, several Cabinet Ministers and other guests. Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda presided. 

Abhinava Sri Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji seen with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Usha Shivakumar and Mysuru District Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah during Dasara stage programme atop Chamundi Hill this noon.

Dressed in traditional silk dhoti and shirt, Shivakumar, attending and leading Dasara as CM for the first time, was accorded a red carpet and Poorna Kumbha welcome by temple priests and folk troupes. Usha Shivakumar wore a blue and cream saree. 

‘Agra Puja’ to Goddess  

Before the inauguration, the Gavimutt Seer performed ‘Agra Puja’ to Goddess Chamundeshwari at the sanctum sanctorum, accompanied by the Chief Minister and other Ministers. The Swamiji later placed a shawl and garland on Shivakumar.  

Temple chief priest Dr. N. Shashishekar Dixit offered prasadam to the Swamiji and the Chief Minister couple, who bowed in reverence before the deity. Special pujas to the Goddess began at 5 am. During Navaratri, the presiding deity will be adorned with different alankaras. 

Earlier, at the entrance to Chamundi Hill, the Swamiji performed rituals to the Nandi Dhwaja, with CM Shivakumar and his wife offering prayers. Traditional ensembles, including Mangala Vadya, Puja Kunita, Lingadevara Kunita, Veerabhadra Kunita, Tamate and Chande troupes, welcomed the dignitaries. 

Two stanzas of Vande Mataram 

Following the inauguration, artistes sang the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, in keeping with the State Government’s directive restricting its public rendition at State-run functions to these stanzas. The song was followed by Kuvempu’s Naadageethe. 

For the first time, hundreds of pontiffs from various Mutts across Karnataka attended the inauguration. More than 200 Swamijis of various Mutts arrived from Suttur in six buses and were given a traditional welcome at the Hill entrance. 

Special seating was arranged for the pontiffs, while colourful rangoli designs adorned the stretch from the Mahishasura statue to the stage. Sikh and Christian religious leaders also attended the ceremony and were welcomed with floral garlands. 

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar prostrates before the altar of Goddess Chamundeshwari.

Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Eshwar Khandre, Minor Irrigation and Science and Technology Minister Ajay Dharam Singh, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rizwan Arshad, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture C. Puttarangashetty, Forest Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy, MP Sunil Bose, MLAs Tanveer Sait, K. Harishgowda, T.S. Srivatsa, Darshan Dhruvanarayan, D. Ravishankar, A.R. Krishnamurthy and Anil Chikkamadu, MLCs C.N. Manjegowda, Raghu Kautilya, K. Shivakumar, former Ministers K. Venkatesh and Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Additional DC R. Aishwarya, Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Development Authority Secretary M.J. Roopa, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar and others were present on the occasion.