Date:12/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/12/stories/2007101254980800.htm

Karnataka

Mysore brightens up for festival

Staff Correspondent

— Photo: M.A. Sriram

Breathtaking: Mysore Palace comes alive when it is illuminated.

MYSORE: Lights, cameras and action! The curtains on the biggest cultural extravaganza, spanning 10 days, will go up on Friday with the inauguration of the Dasara festivities atop Chamundi Hills in Mysore.

The city is fully decked up to play host to the grand annual carnival that attracts domestic and foreign tourists. Already, tourists have started arriving in the city unmindful of the recent political developments in the State and the subsequent President’s rule.

The officials were seen supervising the last-minute preparations at Mysore Palace, the cynosure of all eyes.

The number of tourists it draws during Navrathri is a pointer to its popularity. The palace, will come alive when 96,000-plus bulbs are switched on. It is not just the palace which will mesmerise the tourist, but also the heritage buildings that are also being illuminated. The Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) is setting off its ‘grand illumination plan’ at an estimated cost of Rs. 70 lakh. The public offices, streets (even those in residential areas), circles, prime junctions and statue circles will be illuminated.

Special lights

Special lamps are being used to illuminate trees from Hardinge Circle to Statue Circle.

Illumination from Hardinge Circle to Tersian College Circle, Chamaraja Wadiyar Circle to Fountain Circle, and the entire Ashoka Road has been specially done to brighten up the surroundings.

The ‘Raja Beedis’ (the streets around the palace and Jagan Mohan Palace) are also part of the CESC’s illumination package.

Sources in CESC said the 10-day illumination of the city requires 45 lakh units of electricity, barring the electricity used for the palace illumination.

“All necessary steps have been taken to ensure additional power for Dasara. There won’t be any scarcity or disruption until the festivities are done,” the sources added.

Commercial establishments, hotels and shops have been asked to illuminate their premises.

It is only at the Mysore Palace that the specially made Brass Screw Lamp, suitable for Ferry Land Based (FLB) holder, is used in the country.

While Mysore Lamps Limited were the suppliers of these bulbs, an ancillary unit of Mysore Lamps in Bangalore supplies them now.

In the past few festivals, 40-watt bulbs were used, but the authorities will now use 15-watt bulbs to prevent circuit burnout.