Mysuru: Mysuru and Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar on Wednesday backed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s statement that the Mysuru Dasara celebrations should not be scaled down despite the drought, stressing that the annual festival plays a major role in the city’s tourism economy and supports the livelihoods of thousands of people.
Speaking at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Mysuru District Journalists’ Association, Yaduveer said Dasara was closely linked to Mysuru’s economic activity, particularly tourism, hospitality, transport and retail.
Dasara crucial for Mysuru’s tourism economy
Yaduveer said businesses and individuals had invested in Mysuru based on the city’s tourism potential and that the Dasara season provided an important opportunity for them to generate revenue.
“The city’s economy largely hinges on Dasara festivities. People have made investments in Mysuru keeping its tourism potential in mind. These investments have created jobs for local people. Hotels, travel operators, traders and others await Dasara for business,” he said.
According to the MP, the arrival of tourists during the festival creates a ripple effect across several sectors. Hotels and restaurants benefit from increased footfall, while travel operators, traders and other local businesses also see greater demand.
“Businesses thrive when tourists come, and they in turn support local trade,” he said.
Yaduveer also pointed out that the government was already spending on attractions such as illumination as part of the celebrations. Against this backdrop, he argued that drought should not be used as a reason to significantly reduce the scale of the festival.
“In such a situation, we cannot scale down Dasara citing drought. Therefore, Dasara should not be a simple affair,” he said.
His comments came after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar indicated that the historic Mysuru Dasara celebrations would continue without being scaled down despite drought conditions in parts of Karnataka.
Transparency sought in Jamboo Savari passes
The MP also spoke about the issue of overcrowding at the Mysuru Palace during the Jamboo Savari.
Yaduveer said he had participated in a meeting convened by the Chief Minister in Bengaluru some time ago, where suggestions were discussed on making the system of issuing passes more transparent.
He said he regularly received requests for passes to enter the Palace during the Jamboo Savari.
“I am flooded with requests for passes. Leave aside my supporters and party workers, I get requests even from Congress MPs for passes,” he said.
The MP suggested that technology could be used more effectively to regulate the number of people entering the Palace premises during the high-profile event.
He also welcomed the decision to number seats inside the Palace, saying the move could help prevent overcrowding and improve the management of visitors and invitees.
The Jamboo Savari is one of the central attractions of Mysuru Dasara and draws large crowds to the city every year. Managing access to restricted areas around the Palace has therefore remained an important organisational challenge.
Technology can help manage Palace crowds
Yaduveer said modern technology could offer a more transparent and systematic approach to managing access.
A structured pass system could help authorities monitor the number of people entering different sections of the Palace and reduce confusion over allocation, particularly on the day of the Jamboo Savari.
The MP’s comments come amid efforts to improve crowd management during the festival, when large numbers of visitors gather around the Palace and along the Jamboo Savari route.
Numbered seating, he suggested, could also provide greater accountability by ensuring that designated spaces are not occupied beyond their capacity.
Neighbouring States invited to Dasara
Yaduveer welcomed the government’s decision to invite Chief Ministers of neighbouring States to the Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
He said the participation of neighbouring State leaders could help promote the festival and strengthen its wider tourism appeal.
The MP also supported the inclusion of tableaux from different regions in the Dasara procession, provided they were planned and coordinated properly.
“Any number of tableaux could be included in the Dasara procession, provided they were planned properly,” he said.
The participation of tableaux has traditionally added a cultural and regional dimension to the procession, allowing different departments and institutions to showcase their programmes, achievements and traditions.
Yaduveer opposes separate Dasara authority
On the proposal to establish a separate Dasara authority, Yaduveer said he was not in favour of creating another independent body for managing the festival.
He argued that setting up a new authority could result in another layer of administration and additional nominations.
“I am not in favour of creating a separate Dasara authority. It would only result in another body with additional nominations,” he said.
Instead, he suggested that the government could improve the organisation and administration of Dasara within the existing system and institutional framework.
His position indicates a preference for strengthening the current mechanism rather than creating another administrative structure exclusively for the festival.
MP proposes Mysuru as convention city
Yaduveer also highlighted Mysuru’s potential to emerge as a major convention destination.
He said he had proposed developing the city as a convention city, taking into account its tourism potential and the large floating population that visits Mysuru.
“The city is well suited for such an arrangement. The existing infrastructure can be put to better use,” he said.
Mysuru already attracts visitors because of its heritage, culture, tourism attractions and connectivity. Yaduveer said better utilisation of the city’s existing infrastructure could help expand its role in the meetings, conferences and events sector.
Developing the convention economy could also complement the city’s tourism industry by attracting visitors outside the peak festival season.
Yaduveer comments on Mahisha Dasara
The MP also addressed the continuing controversy surrounding Mahisha Dasara.
Yaduveer said he had no objection to an event intended to worship Mahishasura, provided its organisers did so without hurting the sentiments of other sections of society.
“If the aim of organising Mahisha Dasara is different, then it is questionable,” he said.
His remarks reflected the need to distinguish between the cultural or religious expression associated with Mahisha Dasara and activities that could potentially cause tensions between different groups.
Dasara continues to drive Mysuru’s economy
Yaduveer’s comments underline the economic significance of Mysuru Dasara beyond its cultural and traditional importance.
The festival brings tourists to the city and creates increased demand for accommodation, transportation, food, shopping and other services. For businesses that depend heavily on tourism, the Dasara period represents one of the most important seasons of the year.
At the same time, the MP’s remarks come against the backdrop of drought concerns, making the question of the scale of public spending and celebrations a matter of public discussion.
Yaduveer maintained that the festival should continue to receive adequate attention because of its contribution to tourism and employment, while also advocating better systems for crowd management and administration.
With the government deciding to continue the celebrations, preparations for the annual festival are expected to focus on balancing its cultural significance, tourism potential and logistical requirements.