Agencies

Bangalore, Aug 17: The Karnataka Government has decided to celebrate the annual world famous Dasara festivities in the city of palaces in a grand manner this year, marking the golden jubilee of the state formation.

Principal Secretary to the state government I M Vittal Murthy told reporters here that the government had allocated Rs 75 lakh for the festivities, beginning on September 23. Sponsorship from companies like Infosys, TVS and State Bank of Mysore was likely to fetch another Rs 1.5 crore.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who is also the Chairman of the High Power Committee organizing the nine-day 'Navaratri Utsava,' had asked the officials to ensure that this year's edition of the celebration was made most attractive in view of the golden jubilee function of the state formation scheduled to be held on November one.

He said, as usual there would be a number of events during the nine-day festivities which would commence with a special pooja to the presiding diety of the city of palaces, Goddess Chamundeshwari, atop the Chamundi Hills.

The events includ music festival, Dasara sports, flower shows, air show, films, dramas and food festival, besides the three-month-long Dasara Exhibition.

Murthy said the grand finale would be marked by the traditional 'jumbo savari' during which the idol of goddess Chamudeswari would be placed on a 800-kg golden howdah mounted on a a caprisoned tusker and taken in a procession through the main thoroughfares of the city.

The festivities would conclude with the Torch Light Parade at Bannimantap grounds on the outskirts of the city.

He also said the state government had sanctioned Rs 1.6 crore for the development of Rangamandiras (drama schools) in 16 districts of the state including the famous Rangaayana in Mysore, he added.