Dasara celebrations kick off with puja atop Chamundi Hills in Mysuru

MYSURU: The 10-day Dasara festivities was inaugurated by noted writer HamPa Nagarajaiah atop the Chamundi Hills in Mysuru today. The litterateur showered flower petals at 9.29 am to the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari to signal the start of the festivities.

Speaking after the inauguration, the litterateur said the Dasara celebrations do not discriminate based on caste or religious line as it is organised by an elected government. There is no significance of believers or non-believers, he felt.

He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have stood firm despite trouble and advised people to take challenges head on. “Life is a big arena and we should not lose heart, but stand firm. Being courteous is not a sign of weakness. I prayed to Goddess Chamundeshwari to give the strength to people to overcome all odds in life”, he said.

He said the Israel-Palestine, Russia-Ukraine wars should stop, there should be an end to female foeticide and adequate representation to women in legislature and Parliament. “People should not harbour thoughts of toppling an elected government, but should instead think about saving it”, he said.

“It is easy to pull down something, but difficult to build. We don’t need elections again and again. No party can remain in power for long. The opposition should work to come to power in the five years. Mudslinging and name-calling should not mislead the youth”, he said.

Earlier, all the guests including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and HamPa Nagarajaiah, travelled in a bus to Chamundi Hills. Other MLAs and ministers too were present. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah offered puja to the Nandi Dhwaja and also to Goddess Chamundeshwari. Tight security arrangements were made for the event.

The Dasara flower show, film festival, Raitha Dasara, wrestling, yoga, exhibition and cultural programmes at the Mysuru palace also got off to a start today.

The main streets of Mysuru will be illuminated during the Dasara celebrations. On the lines of the Ganga Aarti, Cauvery Aarti will also be performed for five days at Srirangapatna starting Thursday evening.