Mysore Dasara gets off to a slow start

Ex CM's demise, political imbroglio dampen spirit.

Dasara 2007 has been bogged down by uncertainties -- first, the political imbroglio; second, the death of former chief minister SR Bommai in Bangalore on Wednesday. The latter, has dampened the Dasara inaugural spirit in Mysore. First day's programme was the first casualty.

While the religious rituals part of the 10-day Dasara inaugural is retained, the cultural programmes scheduled in the later part of the day have been postponed, with the state government declaring a three-day mourning in his honour.

The formal inauguration of the Dasara will take place atop the Chamundi Hills as scheduled with a worship of Goddess Chamundeswari between 8.40 am and 9.15 am by Adi Chunchanagiri Mutt head Balagangadharanatha Swamiji.

But, the officials were not certain till Thursday's afternoon whether the rest of the scheduled programmes like the inauguration of the film festival, wrestling, Dasara exhibition and Yuva Dasara would take place.

"The rituals relating to the festival will take place as usual tomorrow, but a decision on holding the cultural programmes will be known by today evening," an official told Business Standard.

In the evening, it was announced that the rest of the day's scheduled programmes "" music in front of the palace, film festival, wrestling and film festival "" have been postponed to commence from Saturday.

But, without the elected representatives', the 2007 Dasara is an 'official' Dasara.

Perhaps for the first time in the recent years, Dasara committees are bereft of elected representatives. With President's rule being imposed in Karnataka and the Mysore City Corporation Council still to be formed, the elected representatives are not on the Dasara organising committees.

Elected representatives and political party nominees constitute a major chunk of the Dasara committees every year.

They held the chairman's posts along with the officials, sharing equal responsibility of organising and conducting the different programmes which this year has fallen on officials.