Bangalore, Oct 13: Politics has cast its ugly shadow over culture and tradition. The raging Cauvery row between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is casting a shadow on the famous Mysore Dussehra festivities that have been already been scaled down this year due to severe drought in the state.
The Dussehra festival, signifying the victory of good over evil, is celebrated in Karnataka as 'Nada Habba' (state festival). The showpiece of the festival is the nine-day display of pomp and pageantry culminating in the 'jamboo savari' or procession of majestic elephants in Mysore.
Mysore, 130 km from Bangalore, thrives on tourism because of its places, the Chamundi hills and the Brindavan Gardens at the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir. Every weekend it attracts hundreds of visitors and during Dussehra tens of thousands, including from abroad.
This year the Mysore Dussehra festivities start Oct 16 with the usual 'pooja' (worship) of Hindu Goddess Chamundeshwari atop Chamundi hills.
The 'jamboo savari', a procession of caparisoned elephants with the majestic tusker Balarama or Arjuna carrying the idol of Chamundeshwari placed in the 750-kg golden 'howda' (seat) will take place Oct 24. The festivities wind down that night with a torchlight procession.
