Symbolic Cauvery Aarti programme inaugurated at Brindavan Gardens

A symbolic Cauvery Aarti programme was inaugurated at Brindavan Gardens, near here, on Friday by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

After its inauguration, the programme, modelled on the lines of Ganga Aarti, was performed by priests who carried out the rituals in the presence of the audience.

The programme, which began on Friday, will be held for five days till September 30.

Addressing the gathering at Brindavan Gardens, Mr. Shivakumar said he had sent a team of 20 people, including legislators led by Minister in charge of Mandya district N. Cheluvarayaswamy, to study the Ganga Aarti programme in Varanasi and Haridwar. The team, after carrying out a study, had submitted him a report.

The Cauvery Aarti programme had been conceived on the basis of the visit and the report, Mr. Shivakumar said before referring to the “hurdles” in its path and reiterating that the government would take forward the Cauvery Aarti project as conceived, he said.

Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy, Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi, MLAs representing Srirangapatna and Melkote — Ramesh Bandisidde Gowda and Darshan Puttannaiah, respectively — besides Madhu Made Gowda and Dinesh Gooli Gowda, MLCs, were present on the occasion.

Seers, including that of Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru Siddalinga Swami, Somanath Swami from Adichunchanagiri Mutt in Mysuru, and Nishchalananda Swami, were also present.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by Mr. Shivakumar’s office said the State government was organising a host of sporting activities for tourists at Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) along with the Cauvery Aarti programme.

Even though Cauvery Aarti had been organised on an experimental basis, the programme had been held in a colourful manner, exceeding the expectations of the public, the statement said, before adding that about 80 sports programmes had been introduced at KRS, creating an exciting atmosphere for the families to visit the dam.

Meanwhile, a protest was staged in Mandya by Raitha Hitarakshana Samihthi and other progressive groups against the Cauvery Aarti programme.

Farmers’ leader Sunanda Jayaram, who also participated in the programme, alleged that the government, by organising the Cauvery Aarti programme, was violating the court order against any project, including the proposed Disneyland at KRS.

She also questioned the need for the government to organise the Cauvery Aarti by spending such a large sum of money.