Five Covid warriors to be Dasara chief guests

Mysuru: District minister S T Somashekar on Saturday said that five names will be suggested from different government departments as chief guests for the inauguration of the Dasara celebrations, and that chief minister B S Yediyurappa will finalise who will deliver the inaugural speech atop Chamundi Hills.
Speaking after conducting the Dasara executive committee meeting at Mysuru Palace, Somashekar said that the Dasara celebrations will be inaugurated between 7.45 am to 8.15 am on October 17.
“As per the high-power committee meeting, which was recently chaired by the CM in Bengaluru, five persons will be selected as chief guests. One each from the police department, a nurse, doctor and ASHA worker from the health department and pourakarmika from urban development department will be selected. The departments will select one person from each category, who has served exceptionally during the crisis, as chief guests,” he said.
The committee also decided to felicitate a person who has given a dignified burial to a Covid-19 victim, during the inauguration ceremony. “We will send the list to the CM, who will finalise the chief guest who will be delivering the inaugural address,” Somashekar said.
Somashekar said that elephants Abhimanyu, Vikrama, Gopi, Vijaya and Cauvery have been finalised for the procession, which will be held inside the Mysuru Palace, and that Abhimanyu will carry the golden howdah as Arjuna is above 60. “Abhimanyu is participating in the Dasara procession for more than 16 years, and is capable of carrying the 750 kg golden howdah,” he said, and added that there will be no gajapayana, and that the elephants will be welcomed at the Mysuru Palace with traditional pujas at 12.18 pm on October 2,” he said.
At the meeting it was decided to hold only nine cultural programmes in nine days inside the Mysuru Palace, by national and international artistes. Similarly, nine programmes in nine days will be held at the temple atop Chamundi Hills. A committee headed by tourism minister C T Ravi will be formed, to select an artiste for the Sangeetha Vidwan award.
Tourism minister C T Ravi said that it will be simple and traditional Dasara. “There are recommendations from various organisations for Dr Manjunath or Dr Ravi from Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital to deliver the inaugural speech,” he said.
Select Dr Yoganna as chief guest
Meanwhile, writer Raghuram Vajpayee demanded that the state government select noted cardiologist and writer S P Yoganna for inaugurating the Dasara celebrations. Speaking during the press meet at the press club on Saturday, Vajpayee said that Dasara celebrations represent the rich culture, tradition, literature and heritage of the state. “Every year personalities who have served in literary fields are selected to inaugurate the Dasara, but as the country is affected by a pandemic, and there is a demand from the public for Covid warriors to inaugurate this year’s Dasara, we demand that the government select Yoganna to inaugurate Naada Habba,” he said.
Wrestlers demand kushti event
Wrestlers have urged the government to not cancel the Dasara kushti event which is held at Doddakere Maidan.
The wrestlers said that they are practising for the event. “Every year wrestlers from various states used to participate in the annual event, but due to the pandemic, the government should only allow wrestlers from within the city to participate. Dasara kushti is the only event where we can showcase our skills and continue the tradition,” they said.