Mysuru: Imploring deity Chamundeshwari to protect the human race from the infectious novel coronavirus and lend a hand to find a Covid vaccine at the earliest, C N Manjunath, chairman, expert panel, inaugurated the 411th edition of the ten-day
Mysuru Dasara atop Chamundi Hills on Saturday.
The celebration was restricted to a limited audience this year, but was impressive as usual.
This year the festival is being celebrated with religious fervour all over the country, and is being dedicated to Covid warriors. Six Covid warriors were honoured on the occasion, and the event was inaugurated by front-line Covid warrior C N Manjuanth, a Padma Shri, and director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular sciences and Research.
Contributions of the maharajas of Mysuru to the field of health, education and agriculture were hailed on the occasion.
Manjunath felt that it was the biggest honour for him to inaugurate the celebration.
“There are still no immediate signs of relief from the novel coronavirus which continues to spread. Phase-III human trials are under way towards developing a vaccine. We can expect the latest vaccine by February or July 2021. Till then, the only protection humans have are wearing masks properly, and to maintain social distancing. Today, I have prayed to the deity to help us find a vaccine, and to ensure that the world is free of the novel coronavirus soon,” said Manjunath.
Rs 7.5 cr package to develop Chamundi Hills
Heeding to the request of local elected representatives, chief minister B S Yediyurappa promised to sanction Rs 7.5 crore for the development of Chamundi Hills. Two water bodies, including Devikere, will be rejuvenated, and the 1,001 stairs going up the Chamundi Hills will be realigned, and proper lighting will be provided for it.
On the occasion, the chief minister prayed to the deity to save the world from the novel coronavirus, and said that the government is committed to provide relief to residents in flood-hit areas of the state.
Six Covid warriors feted
Covid warriors P Kumar, a police constable, Noor Jaan, an ASHA worker, Rukmini, a senior staff nurse at a Covid hospital, Ayub Ahamed, a social worker, Maragamma, a pourakarmika and T R Naveen, a medical officer, were felicitated by the chief minister during the
inauguration of the Mysuru Dasara.