Dasara celebrations start in Mysuru on a low-key note amid the pandemic

Naada Habba Mysuru Dasara kicked off on a low-key note amid the pandemic, atop Chamundi Hills on Saturday morning. This year’s festival was inaugurated by cardiologist Dr CN Manjunath, who lighted the lamp and offered floral tributes to goddess Chamundeshwari, which was placed inside a silver chariot. The festival will culminate on October 26 with the popular Jamboo Savari.
Speaking on the occasion, Manjunath said, “For the first time, someone from the medical field has been given the opportunity to inaugurate the Dasara festival, which this year, is being held in honour of the Corona warriors.”
Minister ST Somashekhar Yediyurappa, who was also present during the inaugural event, said that Mysuru’s popular tourist destinations Chamundi Hills, Mysore Palace, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens and Nanjangud Temple will be opened for visitors during this time.
Earlier this week, the district administration had decided to keep the tourist destinations closed until November 1 in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 positive cases.
The cultural events will take place for two hours from this evening in front of the illuminated palace. Meanwhile, the streets, circles and the palace will also be lit up for a couple of hours. The illumination works that stretches for a distance of 50 km will serve as a medium to spread awareness about maintaining social distance and wearing masks.