Mysuru, Sept 21: Amidst the thick haze that had enveloped the pristine Chamundi Hills here on Thursday morning, the 408th edition of the Mysuru Dasara, celebrated as “Nada Habba”, got off to a traditional start. The beating of drums by the folk artistes rent the air as several hundreds turned up to witness the glorious folklore unfolding.
Noted poet and Nadoja K.S. Nissar Ahmed inaugurated the 10-day celebrations by showering flower petals on the “utsava murti” – the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari - placed in a silver chariot on the temple premises.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his Cabinet colleagues H.C. Mahadevappa, Tanveer Sait, Rudrappa Lamani, Pramod Madhwaraj, Umasharee, MP Pratap Simha, MLA G.T. Deve Gowda and other dignitaries were present.
Prof Ahmed, who began his address by reciting a few lines from Jnanpith awardee Da Ra Bendre’s poem, said, “I have no words to explain how elated I am today for having inaugurated the festivities that have a celebrated tradition. I had no clue at all that I would be inaugurating the Nada Habba in Mysuru today. Such an opportunity does not come to all and I am thankful to the government for this honour.”
Recalling the history of Dasara under Vijayanagar rulers and the Wadiyars, the ‘Nityoysava’ poet said Dasara is one festival that is celebrated by the people of all faith. It’s a common man’s festival. What’s unique about Mysuru Dasara is that it is celebrated by the government. “I consider today’s Dasara moment as the most memorable day in my life.”
Describing Mysuru as a cultural city, the poet said the city is known for its deep-rooted culture which cannot be found in places like Bengaluru. “I’m sure the presiding deity will protect the State from the evil forces and keep the Kannadigas together.”
In his address, Mr. Siddaramaiah said it was his fifth Dasara as the Chief Minister. “I have the desire to celebrate Dasara for five more years as the Chief Minister. I hope this will happen and the people bless me once again.”
He said he had asked the district administration to celebrate the festival with its original grandeur after the State was blessed with rains. “Kabini dam has reached its full reservoir level and I hope the KRS and Hemavathy dams in the Cauvery belt are also filled up to their full levels. This is first time in the recent past that Kabini dam has filled up in September. I am offering bagina to Kabini dam today,” he said.
On the Cauvery issue, he reiterated that Karnataka was against the formation of the Cauvery Water Management Board and the state had conveyed its stand to its lawyers in the Supreme Court. Farmers in the Cauvery command area in the state need not panic, he said.
Of 70 lakh hectares of cultivable area in the State, only 63 lakh hectares could be sown this Kharif season because of lack of rains in June and July. “We are hoping for more rains that will ease drinking water scarcity and fill up tanks and ponds.”
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