MYSURU: Despite apprehension that the skies may open up any time affecting the Jamboo Savari, the cultural extravaganza which marks the conclusion of the 10-day festivities, lakhs of visitors turned up to witness the grand spectacle.Though the state government kept Dasara festivities a low-key affair following drought coupled by Cauvery water sharing row with riparian states hitting the tourism industry, the rains across the state allowed the state government to scale up the celebrations.
Bountiful rains and release of water for crops revived the celebrations in the Cauvery basin that had recorded lowest rainfall with reservoirs touching its bottom. The end of drought spell gave a fillip to tourism with increase in bookings by 30 per cent. The rains lifted the spirit of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who will seek another term next year. He said rains have bailed out the state from drought and preparations are being made to provide seeds, fertilizers to the farming community.
Siddaramaiah, who came with his cabinet colleagues in a KSRTC Airavat bus, offered puja to Nandi Dhwaja at 2.15 pm in Makara Langa at Balarama Gate of the palace. He said they have scaled up celebrations following good rains.The foreign and domestic tourists from across the country had also turned up in good numbers to watch the Jamboo Savari procession. The five-km procession route from New Sayyaji Rao Road to Bannimantap was also flooded with sea of people gathered to seek blessings of goddess Chamundeshwari placed in a golden howdah.
Many had come with umbrellas and raincoats as the city received rains on Friday.
The pleasant weather added to the zeal and energy of artistes who performed to their best entertaining and enthralling the crowd both inside and outside Amba Vilas palace.As the Dasara festivities were celebrated on — Constitution, Democracy, Equality — theme, tableaux of social reformers who worked for establishing social equality, the Jain Basati of Karkala, Mahamastakabhisheka in Shravanabelagola, contributions of erstwhile Maharajas, Sriramanucharya of Melukote, populous programmes of Siddaramaiah government, Indira Canteen, Basavakalyana and others were showcased on the occasion.Later, Siddaramaiah, District Minister H C Mahadevappa, Yaduveer Krishnadutta Chamaraja Wadiyar and other ministers offered Mysore Jasmine flowers to the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari which was carried by howdah elephant Arjuna, around 5.15pm.
Cops resort to mild caning
Police resorted to mild caning near Kote Anjaneya Temple and KR Circle when hundreds of people tried to break the barricade to entre the Dasara route. One cop got into the crowd to beat them in order to control them, but he was finding it very difficult to come out of the crowd. A group of alert policemen who observed this immediately lifted the cop over the barricade from the crowd.
Air show wins heart
The Akash Ganga team of the Indian Air Force enthralled thousands at the Airshow held at Bannimantap grounds on Friday. The Air Show that was stopped in 2009, was reintroduced with the intervention of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Unfortunately, a pilot was hurt due to harsh landing and was rushed to hospital.