Mysuru, 26 Sept 

The Raitha Dasara celebrations at Kote Anjaneyaswamy temple abutting the north gate of Mysuru Palace were flagged off by State Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy on Friday. 

A large number of farmers took part in the colourful procession, which passed through main streets of Mysuru, culminating at Raitha Dasara venue at JK Grounds. 

Various folk troupes, such as the Nandi Dwaja, Nagari Tamate, Veeragase dance, Veerabhadra Kunitha, Puja Kunitha, Chilipili Gombe, Naadaswara took part in the procession. Desi breed cows such as the ox-like Punganur and Hallikar breed were the cynosure of the procession, alongside Bandur sheep and bullock carts. 

While flagging off the event, Cheluvarayaswamy hailed farmers for keeping tradition alive and noted that the festival had attracted attention worldwide. 

The Raitha Dasara Sub-committee also displayed the modern agriculture tools and machines along the procession this year including Nano Urea liquid fertiliser application, Kisan Cart, Swaraj Machines, Power Inter cultivator, high-tech paddy harvester, power tillers and other agriculture tools machines.

MLA K Harishgowda, CESC chairman and MLA Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, Raitha Dasara sub-committee chief Yogesh and others were also present.