MANDYA: The five-day ‘Cauvery Aarti’ programme, a pet project of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, was officially launched on Friday at the boating area of Brindavan Gardens at the KRS dam in Srirangapatna taluk.
Deputy CM Shivakumar, who also holds the water resources portfolio, inaugurated the programme by performing a puja to the Cauvery river. About 12-13 trained local priests will perform the aarti over five days, which is modeled after the Ganga aarti.
Over 8,000 tourists were expected to attend the event on Friday evening, with seating arrangements and prasada being made available. Entry to the KRS dam and toll collection will be free for the next five days. Tight security measures have been put in place to prevent any untoward incidents, with hundreds of police personnel deployed.
Meanwhile, farmers’ organisations staged a protest against holding the Cauvery aarti programme, citing concerns over the government’s intentions. A protest meeting was held near the KRS dam, where farmers expressed their opposition to the programme. Police kept close watch on the situation to prevent any disruptions.
