Dasara attracted a large number of tourists this year: Siddaramaiah

This year’s Dasara is celebrated for 11 days instead of the usual 10 days and says the festival is celebrated with gaity without any obstacles

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has claimed that this year’s Dasara festival has attracted a large number of tourists.

Speaking to reporters after offering puja to Nandi Dhwaja outside the North Gate of Mysuru palace, which also paves the way for the start of the Vijayadashami procession, Mr. Siddaramaiah said this year’s Dasara was celebrated for 11 days instead of the usual 10 days and said the festival was celebrated with gaity without any obstacles.

If people are happy and participate in the festival in large numbers, the government is also happy. “If people are happy, the government is also happy,” he remarked.

He said that he inaugurated the Vijayadashami procession on five occasions during his first tenure as Chief Minister and on three occasions during his second stint. Stating that he was inaugurating the procession with the blessings of the people of the State, Mr. Siddaramaiah sought to extend his greetings to the people of the State.

He thanked the International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq for inaugurating the Dasara festivities and Minister in charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa, besides other Ministers and officials for the arrangements.

“This year, the State had received good rainfall in all the districts and all the reservoirs were filled with water. Except for the loss of crops due to floods in a few districts of north Karnataka, the crop growth has been good,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Mr. Mahadevappa also extended their greetings on the occasion of Dasara festival to the people of the State.