Mysore Dasara takes off today

With private sponsors chipping in with Rs 65 lakh and the state government providing Rs 75 lakh, Mysore's multi-cultural mega event Dasara is commencing today (Tuesday).

The 2005 chapter of the 10-day celebrations will have a mix of traditional and some new events aimed at making it more attractive and colourful.

The celebrations will take off early in the morning atop the Chamundi Hills, in front of the temple of Goddess Chamundeswari, who the royal family has been worshipping for seven centuries.

Kannada writer Baragur Ramachandrappa will launch the celebrations. This will be followed by the inauguration of the Dasara film festival at the Kala Mandira by Kannada actor K S Aswath. Some 32 movies will be screened at four centres "" Bala Bhavan, Kala Mandira, Lido and Gokul theatres "" as morning shows.

In the afternoon, the wrestlers will be on in action at the Devaraj Urs Stadium at the exhibition grounds. Veteran wrestlers will vie for top Dasara titles in the bouts spread over six days.

Then commences the famous 45-day-long Dasara Exhibition at Doddakere. Next on the agenda is the nine-day-long cultural programme by renowned musicians on the specially-erected platform in front of the palace.

This also marks the beginning of cultural programmes at a few other centres "" Jaganmohan Palace, Kala Mandira, Town Hall and Rangayana "" for nine days.

Other programmes slated during the nine days are Yuva Dasara, from October 6 to be inaugurated by Goa's pop singer Remo Fernandes and sports from October 7 to be inaugurated by long jumper Anju Bobby George. There will be a pet animals' show at Kuppanna Park on October 8 and October 9 and a poets' meet on October 8 at Jaganmohan Palace where poets, who are brought in procession from the palace in Mysore's famous horse-driven carriages, will recite their poems. An additional feature this year is the adventure sports carnival from October 4-13.

Apart from these, tourists can enjoy rides in the 25 select tongas with tonga drivers dressed in durbar dress.

The celebrations conclude on October 13. The Chamundeswari procession will start from the palace with Nandi Dhwaja pooja at noon to be followed by a torchlight parade at Banni Mantap from 6.30 pm. There will be a rehearsal on October 8 and October 9.

For the first time, scion of Mysore royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar will add a royal touch to the torchlight parade with his presence. Around 15,000 people can witness the parade at Banni Mantap. Also for the first time, a CCD screen will be erected at a prominent place in the city to screen two programmes live. Similarly, four multimedia screens will be erected at Kuvempunagar, Town Hall, Udayagiri Park and Cheluvamba Park for direct display of the torchlight parade.

Doordarshan will telecast the procession and parade live. Apart from Rs 75 lakh for the celebrations, the government has released Rs 2 crore for improving PWD roads and Rs 3.5 crore for a similar purpose to the corporation, according to district minister Tanvir Sait.

About a dozen companies have contributed Rs 65 lakh and sponsored programmes. Another Rs 10-12 lakh is expected from others. State Bank of Mysore and TVS Company top them with Rs 15 lakh, followed by Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers Rs 10 lakh, MSIL, Canara Bank, Kirloskar-Toyota Rs 5 lakh each, Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Rs 3 lakh, Infosys and Bannari Rs 2 lakh each, the minister said.

Most of the 1,000 gold cards of Rs 5,000 each have been sold. The response to KSRTC's special circuit tourism plan have been received well. Fifty residents have come forward to host the tourists.

A Dasara helpline and a website www.mysoretourism.org will enable tourists to access all information required, the minister added.