Bengaluru, 25 Sept 

The ‘Cauvery Aarti’ for the river Cauvery, modelled on the lines of ‘Ganga Aarti’ performed in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, was held at the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam's Brindavan garden in Mandya on Friday.  It will last for five days from 26 September to 2 Oct, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's office had said on Thursday.

On Friday evening, Shivakumar will formally launch the 'Cauvery Aarti' programme by offering flowers to the Cauvery River.

More than 8,000 to 10,000 tourists from various parts of the State and other states are expected to attend every day, a statement said.

Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for Water Resources, has organised laddus distribution at free of cost for the tourists who come to watch Cauvery Aarti, it said.

The Cauvery Aarti, which includes religious traditions, is said to be the first such event being held in South India.