Shivamogga: The Dasara festival in Shivamogga will be celebrated with traditional grandeur and cultural fervour from September 22 to October 2, city commissioner Mayanna Gowda announced. The festival, which has been celebrated in the city for the past two decades, will run for 11 days this year.
Festival inauguration
On September 22, the Chamundeshwari Devi idol will be installed at Kote Chandika Parameshwari Temple. The festival will be inaugurated by retired Lieutenant General Baggavalli Somashekar Raju in the presence of district minister Madhu Bangarappa.
MLA SN Channabassappa said the celebrations will feature special events including Press Dasara, Paura Karmika Dasara, Women’s Dasara, Knowledge Dasara, and Children’s Dasara.
Procession and star presence
The highlight of the festivities will be the grand procession of Chamundeshwari Devi’s silver idol on October 2. As part of the procession, elephant Sagar will carry the palanquin (ambari), accompanied by elephants Balanna and Bahadur.
Ahead of the celebrations, the organising committee along with MLA Channabassappa performed a puja at Sakrebailu elephant camp, inviting the staff and elephants for the procession.
Several film personalities, including Shivaraj Kumar, Sharan, Karunya Ram, directors Sai Prakash, and Roopa Iyer, will participate as special guests.
Government support
The government has allocated a grant of ₹50 lakh for organising the festival, MLA Channabassappa confirmed.