Dasara needs better model: industry

The Dasara celebrations are turning into a cultural carnival, and its benefit too has narrowed to a section of business and trading community in Mysore. While industry has lost its position as a beneficiary of the 10-day event, which draws huge crowds, there is a section of the trader community which feels it positively impacts their turnover.

In the past, Dasara Exhibition was a major event, apart from the royal celebrations and the ‘Vijaya Dasami’ procession. It bore the name ‘Dasara Industrial & Cultural Exhibition’ and was a brand promoting event for the rulers, highlighting a variety of products and manufactured items of their state, a large number of which came from the public sector. Today, it is no longer a “brand promotion event” and industry bemoans the development.

Hebbal Industries Manufacturers’ Association secretary N Harish said: “Mysore has major business establishments like Infosys, L&T, Automotive Axles, BEML and Wipro. The inauguration of Infosys Global Education Centre was a global event. Unfortunately, no effort has been made to focus on these.”

Chamber of Commerce & Industry secretary H D Raghavendra agrees with this and says no feedback had been taken from the industry, except finding a few sponsors for some programmes. “Neither the industry nor the trading community was consulted. Every year Dasara committees and sub-committees are loaded with party workers, not leading figures of Mysore.”

“Even in the exhibition, there is no showcasing of Mysore’s progress or development in industrial field or trade. The District Industries Centre, which played a dynamic role earlier, has been left with the job of marketing gold cards,” he laments. However, chamber president R Krishna takes a different view when he says, nowhere in the world do carnivals help industry and trade. “They are cultural extravaganzas to promote tourism and related businesses. With the emergence of focus area market, separate sale-cum-exhibitions are held for each specific product. “In fact, businessmen avoid Mysore during the rush season of Dasara,” he said. He, however, adds, “Dasara should have become a prelude to the global industry meet the state government is planning to hold on January 6 in Bangalore, to attract global level projects to Mysore. It is too late now”

. At least in future, we should move towards this direction.

G P Muralidhar of Jyothi Textorium says Dasara in fact hits the local businesses, like textiles, as a number of textile marketers from outside participate in the exhibition.

“Tourists look for exclusive handicraft items or silk sarees. Footfalls to our shops will be poor.”

J R Holla of Kintech Enterprises feels that planning for the celebrations should begin at least six months in advance. Businessman Mahadevaiah adds publicity should be global to attract more visitors from abroad.

“Situation has come to such sorry pass that even Mysoreans do not recognise Dasara as an event any longer as they don’t feel involved. Time has come for a rethink to place Dasara on a better model,” Raghavendra adds, while speaking to Business Standard.