Mysuru: With hardly a fortnight left for the Dasara festivities to begin, preparations are going on briskly with the Dasara executive committee set to invite noted Poet Prof K.S. Nisar Ahmed on Thursday, to inaugurate the celebration.
Dasara executive committee chairperson Dr H.C. Mahadevappa disclosed this after a meeting on Wednesday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Governor Vajubhai Vala and others will also be invited. On Friday, members of the royal family of Mysuru will be officially invited.
Sixteen Dasara sub committees are being formed for the programmes. As many as 2000 gold cards will be available at a cost of Rs 3,999 per gold card for VIP entry and VIP seating at all venues. The transport department has exempted tourist vehicles from tax from September 9 to October 8, Mysuru DC and Dasara special officer Mr D Randeep said.
Tourism principal secretary, Gaurav Gupta and Director Ms Manjula held a meeting with Mr Randeep on Wednesday. They disclosed that the Helicopter joy ride will begin from September 15 with two private airways offering the ride at Rs 2,300 per passenger which will give them an aerial view of Mysuru.
The tourism department is also offering Palace on Wheels facility wherein tourists will be taken to Mysuru Palace, Jaganmohan Palace, Lalit Mahal Palace, Karanji Mansion, Regional Museum of Natural History, Indira Gandhi Museum, CFTRI, Folklore museum at Jayalakshmi Vilas and Railway Museum all at a cost of Rs 999 during Dasara.
An open street festival featuring 30 to 35 activities including folk and hip hop rock music, besides Mysuru specific food, will be hosted by the tourism department for the first time on September 27. A cycle treasure hunt contest will also be hosted connecting heritage buildings as part of Tourism Day. A 3D projection event will be held at Town Hall from September 27 to 29 depicting the history of Dasara.
While artists from Mumbai are given Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, local folk artists who perform for five kms on Dasara day just get Rs 1500. However, district minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa has agreed to consider an increase in honorarium.
