In a press briefing after the second meeting of the Dasara Executive Committee held at the Mysuru Palace Board premises on Wednesday, Minister Mahadevappa revealed that five elephants—Prashantha, Mahendra, Sugreeva, Doddaharave Lakshmi, and Hiranya—will be arriving in this batch. These elephants will join the Dasara festivities, continuing the tradition of showcasing these majestic animals during the festival.
The first batch of elephants, which included Abhimanyu, a veteran in carrying the golden howdah for four consecutive years, along with Dhananjaya, Gopi, Bheema, Rohith, Kanjan, and debutant Ekalavya, as well as female elephants Varalakshmi and Lakshmi, had already arrived in Mysuru city. They came after a grand Gajapayana event on August 21 and have been participating in the Dasara procession training.
Changes to Cultural Programme Schedule
Minister Mahadevappa also announced changes to the cultural programme timings. This year, the cultural events in front of Mysuru Palace will be held from 4 pm to 10 pm, an extension of two hours compared to previous years when the events were held from 6 pm to 10 pm. This adjustment aims to provide more opportunities for local artists to showcase their talents.
Dasara Food Festival and City Preparations
The Dasara food festival is set to take place at the Scouts and Guides ground and the Lalitha Mahal ground. The Minister also emphasised that officials are being directed to ensure that city roads are free of potholes to improve the overall experience for visitors.
Sub-committees and CM’s Role
Minister Mahadevappa noted that all 19 Dasara sub-committees are actively preparing grand events and tableaux that will highlight the culture and heritage of Mysuru and the state. These displays will also reflect the democratic values and objectives of the Indian constitution.
Regarding the appointment of the Dasara inaugurator, Mahadevappa stated that the decision rests with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has yet to announce the name.
Clarification on CM’s Position
In response to questions about the aspirations of various leaders for the Chief Minister’s position, including demands for a Dalit CM, Mahadevappa clarified that the CM’s chair is not vacant.
Additional Initiatives
During the meeting, Mahadevappa instructed officials to focus on educating farmers about the latest agricultural technologies and promoting yoga for a healthy lifestyle. He also suggested that films with meaningful social messages be featured in the Dasara film festival.
Meeting Attendees
The meeting was attended by various officials, including Mysuru DC G Lakshmikanth Reddy, ZP CEO K M Gayathri, ADC P Shivaraju, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, DCPs S Jahnavi, M Muththuraj, Mysuru district SP N Vishnuvardhan, MCC Commissioner Asad Ur Rehman Sharif, DCF Mysuru territorial division K N Basavaraju, Mysuru Palace Board Deputy Director T S Subramanya, and other members of the 19 Dasara sub-committees.
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