Mysuru: Dasara illumination in Mysuru will be made more eco-friendly this year, with the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) assuring that nails, clamps and other hooks will not be used to fix decorative lights to roadside trees.
The assurance comes after concerns were raised over the practice of attaching serial lights to avenue trees ahead of the city’s annual Dasara celebrations. CESC has also said that excessively bright and heat-emitting lights will be avoided to protect trees during the illumination period.
The decision is aimed at ensuring that Mysuru’s iconic tree-lined roads are illuminated for Dasara without causing physical or thermal damage to the city’s greenery.
CESC assures tree-friendly illumination
The CESC Superintending Engineer has assured that workers involved in installing Dasara illumination will not use nails, clamps or hooks on roadside trees.
The assurance follows public concern over the use of such methods to secure electrical wiring and decorative lighting to trees. Driving nails into tree trunks can cause physical injuries and create openings through which infections or pests can enter.
By avoiding direct fastening methods, the authorities intend to reduce the impact of Dasara preparations on mature avenue trees.
The move is particularly relevant in Mysuru, where tree-lined roads form an important part of the city’s landscape and contribute to its distinctive character.
Heat-emitting lights to be avoided
Apart from preventing physical damage, CESC has also assured that excessively bright and heat-emitting bulbs will not be used on trees.
High-intensity lighting placed close to tree trunks and branches can generate heat and potentially affect vegetation when exposure is prolonged. The decision to avoid such lights is therefore intended to make the illumination safer for the city’s greenery.
The focus will be on achieving the visual appeal expected from Dasara illumination while reducing unnecessary stress on trees.
Dasara illumination remains a major attraction
Mysuru’s Dasara illumination is one of the most anticipated features of the annual festival.
Thousands of decorative lights are traditionally installed across important roads, public spaces and heritage areas, transforming the city after sunset. The illumination attracts residents as well as visitors who arrive in Mysuru to experience the festival atmosphere.
However, the scale of the lighting arrangements has also generated concerns in recent years about the impact on trees, energy consumption and the manner in which electrical installations are fixed.
This year’s assurance from CESC is therefore significant as preparations gather pace for the festival.
Balancing celebration and environmental protection
The latest guidelines highlight the need to balance Mysuru’s traditional Dasara celebrations with environmental responsibility.
Trees along major roads are an important part of the city’s urban ecosystem. They provide shade, support biodiversity and contribute to the visual identity of Mysuru.
Protecting them during temporary festival installations can help ensure that the city’s greenery is not compromised for short-term decorative purposes.
The decision to avoid nails and clamps also means that contractors and workers will need to use alternative methods to support electrical wiring and decorative structures.
Public concerns prompt greater attention
The CESC assurance comes after public outrage over the reported nailing and clamping of avenue trees for fixing serial lights ahead of the Dasara illumination.
The issue has generated wider discussion about how Mysuru can maintain its famous festive lighting while protecting its trees.
Environmental protection has become an increasingly important consideration as Mysuru’s annual festival attracts large crowds and requires extensive temporary infrastructure.
Ensuring that lighting installations do not damage trees can also help improve public confidence in the preparations.
Eco-friendly approach to Mysuru Dasara
The decision to avoid nails, clamps, hooks and heat-emitting lights represents a step towards making Dasara illumination more environmentally conscious.
The challenge now will be to ensure that the instructions are followed consistently during installation and throughout the festival.
With CESC providing assurances, residents will be watching the implementation closely as decorative lighting work begins across the city.
Mysuru’s Dasara celebrations are known for their grandeur, but the festival’s visual appeal need not come at the expense of the city’s natural environment. A tree-friendly approach to illumination could allow the city to retain its festive character while protecting the greenery that forms an essential part of Mysuru’s identity.