Association seeks nod for hotels to remain open till midnight during Dasara season
Mysuru: Mysuru Hotel Owners Association has urged the State Government, Mysuru District In-charge Minister and Mysuru District Administration to shift the Dasara Food Mela to the city outskirts, similar to Yuva Dasara.
Addressing mediapersons at Pathrakarthara Bhavan here this morning, Karnataka State Hotels Association Vice-President and Mysuru Hotel Owners Association President C. Narayanagowda said the Food Mela should be shifted to the city outskirts to avoid traffic congestion within the city and benefit the public.
“This will also help boost tourism and economic activities outside Mysuru city,” he said.
The Association has also taken exception to the decision to organise the Food Mela for 15 days. It has urged the District Administration to restrict the mela to nine days, as in previous years.
“Hotel owners have been paying GST and other taxes. Organising the Food Mela for 15 days will affect hotel business. Restricting the mela to nine days will help hotel owners in their business,” he said.
Cleanliness and hygiene
Expressing concern over cleanliness and hygiene at the Food Mela, Narayanagowda said Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officials visit the mela and instruct shopkeepers to maintain hygiene and cleanliness during the first or second day.
“Later, we see that the place becomes completely unhygienic, with cleanliness and food safety norms not being followed. The officials who visit hotels to check food safety measures must also ensure that the same standards are followed at the Food Mela,” Narayanagowda urged.
Midnight deadline
Along with the demand to shift the Food Mela to the city outskirts, the Association has also urged the District Administration to permit hotels to remain open till midnight during Dasara.
“Hotels in Bengaluru operate till midnight regularly. However, the Police in Mysuru city force hoteliers to shut their businesses much earlier. Despite submitting several requests to the concerned officials and ministers, no decision has been taken, which has affected the hotel business,” he added.
The Hotel Owners Association expressed its gratitude to the District Administration for providing an opportunity to display a tableau representing the hotel industry during the Dasara Jumboo Savari procession to be held on Oct. 21.
Mysuru Hotel Owners Association Charitable Trust President Ravi Shastri, Mysuru Hotel Owners Association Working President A.R. Ravindra Bhat, Trust Vice-President Ugraiah, Association Committee Members K.S. Arun and Mahesh Kamat were present at the press conference.
This post was published on September 10, 2026 7:30 pm