City of palaces, Mysore

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The City of palaces, Mysore one of the most important tourist destination of the country attracting over 3.5 million tourists annually is all bedecked for the ten-day globally famous Dasara festivities starting on September 23.

Expected to attract 100,000 toursits daily and over 700,000 on the final day on October two, when the Jamboo savari (elephant procession) would take place as a grand finale, the event would end with a torchlight parade, as usual.

Karnataka Secretary for Information and Tourism I M Vittalamurthy told newsmen here that for the first time , Chinnara Dasara, a four- day event for children would be held. Loads of competitions and funfilled events have been planned for kids, including special children. Kite flying competition, karate championships, yoga walk and a song and light programme are a few other firsts for the current year's festitivities, he said.

Mysore District Deputy Commissioner Selva Kumar, who is also the special officer for the festivities said in all Rs.2.75 crore would be spent on the ten-day event, with the private sector chipping in two crores.

Dasara, a cultural extravaganza will see noted singers and dancers from across the nation performing in the evening at the Palace of the Wadiyars. Prominent artists this year included Rajan Mishra and Sajan Mishra, Ganesh and Kumaresh, Ayan Ali Khan and Amaan Ali Khan, Unnikrishnan, Gopika Verma, Subendra Roy and Maya Rao. The Yuva Dasara at the Mysore University Campus would have youth icons such as Pratichee of viva fame, Hariharan, Karunya and Meenal Jain, Madhu Natraj Heri performing.

With Mysore fast becoming the second IT destination in Karnataka, special efforts would be made to get the youth to visit Mysore during the ten day festivities, Commissioner for Tourism Kumar Naik said.

The usual events such as dasara sports for three days, a National wrestling championship, a drama festival and a film festival would also be there, besides the famous dasara exhibition.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will flag off the Jambo Savari on October two, with Governor T N Chaturvedi witnessing the torch light parade the same evening. Eminent Kannada writer and activist G Narayana would offer prayers to goddess Chamundeswari atop the Chamundi hills on September 23 to start the festivities.