Mysuru Dasara fest: Will Sachin Tendulkar do the honours?

Bengaluru: The government is considering inviting cricket legend, Sachin Tendulkar to inaugurate Mysuru’s Dasara celebrations ,which are set to begin on October 1. A final decision on who should inaugurate the festivities will,however, be taken on August 9 by the Dasara executive committee, according to  CM  Siddaramaiah.

Also being considered for the honour are   writers Channaveera Kanavi, Dr S L Byrappa and Prof K S Nissar Ahamed and the seer of Suttur Math, Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji.

Unlike last year when drought had proved a dampner,  the Dasara celebrations, a major tourism attraction of the state,  will be held on a bigger scale this year, the CM said. Speaking to reporters after ameeting on the annual event, he said the government hoped to draw people from across the globe for the celebrations.

“Barring Malnad and coastal regions, there has been good rain in the state this year and so Dasara will be celebrated in a grand manner,” he said and added that the government was prepared to spend more to make it an affair to remember.

While only Rs 4 crore was spent on the festivities last year, this time Mr Siddaramaiah has asked the committee to work out a bigger budget. Also, unlike  last year, Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami will not coincide this year, according to the CM. 

The much awaited Jumbo Savari,the highlight of the celebrations,  will be held as usual on Vijayadashmi day.  Denying that the Congress was against passing the GST bill, Mr Siddaramaiah said it was  the brain child of UPA government and it was PM Narendra Modi, who had opposed it when in opposition. The Congress only wanted the GST to be restricted to less than 18 per cent, he said.