Mysore turns into 'city of lights'

Mysore turns into a city of lights during the Dasara celebrations, and the centre of attraction is the illuminated palace lit up with nearly 100,000 incandescent bulbs.

While last year the incandescent bulbs were replaced with LED lighting to cut pwoer usage, it had not gone down well with locals who felt it was not that endearing. Hence, the more power hungry lighting lighting is being brought back this year.

It is the colourful lights that makes the Dasara attractive and draws tourists from all over and also the locals. Cell phones with improved camera apps have made it easy for people to capture the tempting images of the illuminated places.

Besides, the palace, prominent spots like the K R Circle, Chamarajendra Wadiyar Circle and the rows of lights on the procession route of the Sayyaji Rao Road stand out during the celebrations, making them very attractive. Lights adorn both sides of the thoroughfare, from the Palace upto Banni Mantap where the Vijaya Dasami procession terminates.

A number of circles are also lit up and one such place this year is the Ramaswamy Circle where an illuminated palace has been created. The circle too has been decorated making the place attractive in the evenings.

Although the celebrations are set to commence from September 25, these roads and circles have already begun to don the festive look with the bright lights.

Trees on either side too have been lit up adding colours on these roads. Spreading green, the lit up trees have made the streets eye-pleasing.

Some Government and private buildings have also been decorated colourfully with strings of lights.

For this Dasara, 25 km length of roads and 42 circles are being illuminated at Rs 1.30 lakh, according to Dasara Deputy Special Officer S Palaiah, who added that the bulbs that light up the places brightly are being installed instead of the LED bulbs that were used last year as there were complaints of illumination being duller. More roads and circles are being lit up than last Dasara.