Permanent Dasara authority on cards, says V Somanna

Mysuru: Housing and Mysuru district minister, V Somanna announced here on Wednesday that the government planned to establish a permanent Dasara Authority  to prepare for the 10-day celebrations much in advance and help tourists plan better for their visit to the city for the festival.

The minister, who is also chairman of the Dasara executive committee, revealed this when he was informed by hoteliers and tourism stakeholders at a meeting that  tourists from abroad planned their trips six months in advance and tourists from other states planned them three months in advance.

Mr Somanna , who later released posters of the nine- day Dasara Yuva Sambrama that begins on Monday, said Sandalwood actor, Ganesh would inaugurate this pre-Dasara event. Around 20 teams of 25 to 50 students  each will perform skits, do mime, and give dance recitals every evening at the open air theatre in Manasagangothri during the event.

The performances will be based on themes like ‘women empowerment and equality,’ ‘environment conservation and man- made disasters,’ ‘national integrity and protection of heritage structures,’ and ‘Swachch Bharath, Swachch Karnataka.”

Minister for tourism, Kannada and culture,  C T Ravi, who held a review meeting on the Dasara preparations, directed the officers to promote the festival  in national, international and in- flight magazines, social media, airports and railway stations. He also asked them to come up with not just short term programmes to attract tourists for Dasara, but also long term programmes to draw them round the year.