Dasara begins atop Chamundi Hills

The 11-day Mysuru Dasara festivities got off to a traditional start on Sunday with Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Swami of Gavimutt, Koppal, lighting the traditional lamp and showering flowers on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari.

Events planned across 11 days

The inauguration marked the beginning of a series of Dasara events, including the flower show, citywide illumination, Dasara sports meet, cultural programmes, food festival, book fair and traditional wrestling bouts.

Chief Minister and 200 seers attend

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other dignitaries participated in the inaugural ceremony. For the first time, over 200 seers and religious heads attended the inaugural event.

Dasara evolved from royal to people's festival

In his inaugural address, the seer said Dasara, once a royal festival, had evolved into a celebration of the people and the land.

Seer calls for agriculture and water protection

Emphasising the importance of agriculture, the seer said technology could never download food. He urged the government and public to protect rivers such as the Cauvery, the Krishna, and the Tungabhadra.

“However advanced technology may become, we cannot download rice and sambar.”

Seer urges support for school development

Recalling educationist Harekal Hajabba's contribution, the seer urged people to support school development in their villages. He said Kannadigas overseas could contribute to building laboratories and libraries in schools.

Six crore people can drive state development

The seer said if all six crore people in the State pledge to work for development, it will mean six crore steps in the right direction, calling for collective action toward progress.