After the high-power panel meeting presided over by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, planning for the Dasara celebrations to commence in Mysore in October is on fast track now.
Preliminary meetings to chalkout this year Dasara better than the previous years, taking into consideration suggestions offered by senior citizens who find the celebrations sliding off the traditional and cultural outfit in recent years, are being speeded up.
Decision has been taken to have the jumbo march from the forests of Hunsur taluk to Mysore on September 3. This recent event has turned attractive for the wayside rural folks who gather to witness the Dasara elephants march to Mysore.
After taking a decision to invite Veerendra Heggade, Kannada and Culture Department Secretary of the state government B R Jayaramaraje Urs has formally invited the Dharmasthala chief to inaugurate the Nada Habba celebrations on October 8.
At a meeting at the weekend presided over by District dn-charge minister Suresh Kumar invited senior citizens suggested emphasis on programmes that reflect the cultural traditions of the Mysore Dasara.
“Let not the Dasara exhibition be a market place, but a showcase of the state’s development as in the yesteryears. Consider moulding the cultural programmes at Yuva Dasara (youth Dasara) into the cultural traditions of the festivities.
Give more time to national and international level artistes perform in the cultural events.
Organise an international level art exhibition. Launch the oft postponed Palace sound and light programme. Restore royal glory of the Dasara procession adding Palace accoutrements.” These were among the suggestions made at the meeting.
Deputy commissioner Harsh Gupta asked sports organisations to propose some national level events for the Dasara sports meet. A national level sports meet was being thought of to award Dasara Trophy for the first time, he said.
At another meeting, he suggested a ‘bicycle day’ to revive the era of bicycles in the city. As there would be no major changes in sub-committees formed last year, he asked them to commence preparations ensuring a variety in the events and also identify artistes to be invited for performing in various programmes.
Rs 9 crore grant has been announced by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa for the 2010 Dasara. He has promised to release Rs 5 crore immediately to ensure smooth preparations by the district administration. Last year, Rs 6 crore was granted.
