Mysuru: It will be an audio-visual treat and a grand show of sound and light for tourists during Dasara cultural programmes at the backdrop of an illuminated Mysore Palace as the Dasara organisers have planned to invite stalwart artistes including Shubha Mudgal, Shobhana, Sudha Chandran, Pt. Rajeev Taranath and Vid. T.M. Krishna to perform from Sept. 21 to 28. And the icing on the cake is that the Palace will be illuminated till the end of the cultural performances.

Usually, the illumination of the Palace starts at 7 pm and lasts for 30 minutes. This year, however, the district administration, based on the feedback of Mysore Palace Board, has decided to extend the timings.

Palace Board Deputy Director T.S. Subramanya has sent a proposal to Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, who is also the Executive Director of the Palace Board and Dasara Special Officer.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, DC Randeep said that the  Palace illumination and the cultural programmes draw lakhs of visitors.

“We have observed that people who come to watch cultural programmes leave the venue as soon as the illumination stops. We want to avoid this and retain the audience so that they can soothe their senses with the rich cultural performances,” he said.

The DC added that extending the illumination timings will add more glitter to the cultural programmes and would increase their value.

Sources said that this year, energy-efficient LED bulbs will be used instead of energy-consuming incandescent bulbs. “The hitch here is that LED bulbs only emit white light and it does not give the golden hue that enhances the beauty of the Palace,” said Palace Board Deputy Director T.S. Subramanya. At present, over a lakh incandescent bulbs create an ethereal light extravaganza against the ink-black sky.

He said that before the decision on extending the illumination is made, talks will have to be held with the officials from Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company (CESC) to understand about the increase in electricity consumption.

Apart from Palace, the authorities have also planned to illuminate all the government buildings, circles and important landmarks in city.