Mysuru/Mandya, 14 SEPT

Mysuru district In-charge Minister HC Mahadevappa on Sunday officially invited the royal family to attend the world-renowned Mysuru Dasara celebrations.

Maintaining the long-standing tradition, Mahadevappa visited the residence of Pramoda Devi Wadiyar at the Mysore Palace and invited her to the festival, offering phala tamboola, a customary gift that includes fruits and betel leaves.

The ritual of inviting the erstwhile royal family remains an integral part of the Dasara celebrations.

It symbolises the historic connection between the Wadiyars and the famed “Nada Habba” of the State.

The Wadiyars played an important role in the evolution of Mysuru Dasara into a globally recognized cultural event, and the government continues to honor their role through this official invitation.

The Minister expressed confidence that this year’s Dasara would not only showcase Mysuru’s cultural grandeur but also attract visitors from across the globe, reinforcing Mysuru’s reputation as a hub of heritage and tradition.

Mahadevappa was accompanied by Karnataka Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee Vice-President Pushpa Amarnath, Deputy Commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy, Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, Zilla Panchayat CEO S Ukesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police Vishnuvardhan, and Additional Deputy Commissioner P Shivaraju, and others.  –Salar News

Bajrang Dal protests over Mushtaq’s invitation

Tension gripped Mandya on Sunday as Hindu activists voiced out strong opposition in a protest against the decision to make writer Banu Mushtaq the inaugurator of this year’s Mysuru Dasara celebrations.

According to the protesters, Mushtaq had allegedly made derogatory remarks about Mother Bhuvaneshwari and the Kannada flag.

“The government is hurting the sentiments of Hindus. It is deliberately attempting to suppress our voices. Mushtaq had told idol worship, it is selective secularism from Mushtaq.  She should apologise for her derogatory remarks on Bhuvaneshwari,” said State President B Manjunath.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the government’s decision to invite Mushtaq as the inaugurator of the Dasara, the Bajrang Dal members, who are under the Manjunath, started a “Chamundi Betta Chalo” campaign from Mandya’s Kalikamba Temple, heading in a convoy of vehicles towards Chamundi Hill.

Before the activists could reach the Chamundi Hill, the police intervened and arrested them to prevent any unexpected incidents from occurring.

The arrested activists were taken to the Mandya Police Ground and released after some time.