Mysore: The Mysore Dasara, a 10-day cultural extravaganza that draws people from around the country and even the world, kicked off Thursday with noted litterateur and playwright, Girish Karnad, inaugurating it at the auspicious time of 8.50 am atop the Chamundi Hills in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other dignitaries.
Dr Karnad, who performed a pooja to the family deity of the Mysore royal family and the supreme deity of the state, Goddess Chamundeswari, to declare the festivities open, was forced to clarify his religious beliefs on the occasion as BJP activists waved black flags, calling him an atheist.
Shrugging off the protest as a sign of a healthy democracy, the Jnanpith awardee admitted he was an atheist, and explained that an atheist was someone who did not did not believe in the four “Chathurvarnas,” “I am against superstitious beliefs but all for moral values,” he said, going on to condemn the Union’s government’s move to introduce astrology as a science when India had succeeded in its Mission Mars.
“When Karnataka became a separate state in 1956, it was rumoured that there would be no more Dasara celebrations. So I came all the way from Dharwad to see them when Jayachamaraja Wadiyar was king,” he revealed.
Mr Siddaramaiah responded to the protests saying, “People call me an atheist too. But I visit all the temples from Chamundeswari to Mahadewara atop MM hills. Even my wife performs pooja at home and I accept mangalaarathi. But I don’t perform pooja, that’s all. Let us uphold humanity, be humans and love our fellow beings. Nobody can file an application to be born in a particular caste,” he said.
Star studded show at Dasara inaugural
BJP activists protest against Girish Karnad inaugurating Dasara
A galaxy of film stars including 83-year-old Sowkar Janaki, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, Srinath, Pooja Gandhi, Murali, Meghana Raj, Roopika, Sharan, Bhavya, directors, T.N. Seetharam, T.S. Nagabarana, Rajendra Babu, actors turned politicians Ambareesh, Umashree, MLCs, Jayamala, Tara Anuradha were present at the inauguration of the Dasara Film Festival. CM Siddaramaiah called on the film fraternity to come up with classic movies which can impact society. He said cinema is loved by one and all. “They have the power to transform society. But cinema has become commercialized.” Housing Minister Ambareesh urged the CM to set up an International Film City in Mysore.
