Southern States - Karnataka   

Grand Dasara from October 7

By Our Staff Reporter

Bangalore Aug. 19. After many years, the nine-day Mysore Dasara celebrations will really be a mega cultural event attracting tourists from all over the world. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, here today. The festivities will begin on October 7.

Briefing presspersons, the Co-operation Minister, H.Vishwanath, and the Minister of State for Kannada and Culture, Rani Satish, said that the Government decided to celebrate it in a big way despite the drought as there was a perception that natural calamities occurred due to lack of interest in conducting national festivals and worshipping Goddess Durga.

After all, Mr. Vishwanath said, the purpose behind such events was to have all-round prosperity. This time, he said, industrialists would sponsor many events, and added that the regional chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry attended the meeting.

In an innovative experiment, Mr. Vishwanath said that the Dasara Exhibition Celebrations Committee had decided to utilise the royal background of the Dasara festivities to boost it on a grand scale. The scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, MP, would be requested to assume an important role in the festivities.

Mr. Vishwanath said that the committee would discuss with Mr. Wadiyar whether he would agree to the proposal to allow tourists, particularly foreigners, to dine with him for a fee as they showed interest in such things. The Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture had agreed to bear the cost of cultural events, and ministers and secretary of departments would be invited to the functions. The State Government had sent a memorandum to the Centre to release a special grant for the festival.

The Defence forces would participate in a big way. There would also be programmes such as air shows. Air Marshal T.M.Asthan had held a discussion with the State Government officials, Mr. Vishwanath added.

The noted singer, Jesudas, had already written to the Chief Minister saying that he was ready to give a concert. Well-known artistes from all over the country would be invited to give music concerts. Roads to important towns near Mysore would be improved, he said.

All departments would be asked to open pavilions at the exhibition venue. Public sector units such as BEML had agreed to exhibit their machinery and equipment. The Chief Minister had directed the Irrigation Department officials to hand over the Brindavan Gardens to the Tourism Department for beautifying it for the event.

Mr. Vishwanath said that private television channels would be given permission to show live the torch-light parade and the Dasara procession. Apart from re-introducing wrestling, an ethnic food festival would be organised.

R.Raghu, Chairman of the Karnataka Exhibition Authority, said that the local artistes would be given opportunities during the three-month-long exhibition.

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