Mysuru, Oct 10: The world famous Mysuru Dasara Festivities began on Wednesday morning on a traditional note with writer and Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation Sudha Murthy offering pooja to Godees Chamundeswari atop Chamundi Hills in the city.
The cool breeze and the misty atmosphere atop the hills added more gusto to the Mysureans and thousands of tourists alike who thronged the venue to witness the inauguration of 409th Mysuru Dasara festivities. There was no dearth to the enthusiasm of the devotees who made a beeline to Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hills on the occasion of the inaugural ceremony of Dasara. For the first time in the history of the Dasara festivities, a women inaugurated the festival.
Earlier to the inauguration, the priests at the temple started various rituals from 4 AM today and the ceremonial bath was given to the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, which was later decorated with a silk sari and flowers on a silver chariot. Though there was restriction for the visitors to the temple, a large number of devotees were seen forming a serpentine queue to have the sight of the presiding deity at the temple.
Ms Sudha Murthy was extended with Poornakumba reception with Nandi Dwaja and later he along with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy other dignitaries did the ‘Pushparchane’ to the idol.
Quoting few lines from a poem penned by Jnanpith awardee poet Kuvempu Ms Murthy in her inaugural address, said: “I first thank the state government and the Chief Minister for inviting me to the historical Mysuru Dasara festivities inaugural function. This is a memorable event in my life and great respect to the state which has high regards for its culture’’.
“Mysuru Dasara has a great history and is celebrated with utmost religious fervour. Mysuru city which is also known as the ‘cultural city’ in the state is acknowledged for its culture and the people who have contributed immensely in various fields. It’s unlike the Bengaluru – the state capital which is completely mixed up,” she added.
She also recalled the Mysuru Royal Family for its contribution to the state and continued the Dasara festivities a tradition started by erstwhile Kings of Vijyanagara empire.
Ms Murthy also announced Rs 25 crores for the construction of houses in the natural calamity hit Kodagu district and also appealed to others to extended their help causes of the people of Kodagu to rebuild the district where floods and torrential rains had damaged vast tract of land.
She said that foundation had already taken over the Hebbal lake in the city to make it as model one spending rs 38 crores and more funds would be spent to take further development .
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