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Bangalore: The State government decided to organise ‘nada habba’ Dasara in Mysore in a grand manner between October 5 and 14.
 
Announcing this to reporters after chairing the high-power committee meeting on organising Dasara, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government will release Rs 10 crore for the celebrations. In addition to it, Rs five crore will be given to the Mysore City Corporation to take up asphalting and beautification works, he said.
 
Noted Kannada writer and Jnanapith awardee Chandrashekara Kambara will be invited to inaugurate the Navaratri festivities on October 5 atop Chamundi Hills. The government had last year spent Rs 8.5 crore for organising the festivities.

Dasara celebrations this year should be a special one. Steps should be taken to enhance the grandeur of Jamboo Savari (procession) held on the last day, the chief minister said. Siddaramaiah directed the officials to try to get attractive tableaux from outside the State also, to add to the glory of Jamboo Savari.
 
“It should be the festivities of the people and not the officials. It is generally perceived that Dasara is about misusing public money. This time, works done should be visible to the people. Invite national and international-level artistes to perform during Dasara. Take all necessary steps to attract tourists to the festivities. Limit the number of Dasara organising committees to 20,” he said.
 
Siddaramaiah directed officials to promote tourism by offering concessions in public transport bus fares to important tourist destinations in and around Mysore district during Dasara.

“Dasara exhibition should be organised on the lines of the one organised in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan,” he said.

Mysore Deputy Commissioner C Shikha said the Union government had been urged to allow the Indian Army to take part in Jamboo Savari.

Detailed information had been provided to the Centre on arrangements that the district administration would make for the Army contingent to take part in the festivities, she said.
 
The responsibility of organising Dasara this year is on three women officers: Shikha, Mysore Divisional Commissioner Jayanti and Mysore district in charge secretary Amita Prasad. This was pointed out by none other than Siddaramaiah at the meeting.

“I hope the three officers will make the festival a grand success and it will be a women’s Dasara,” he said.
 
The Centre has issued an alert to the State on possible terror attack during Dasara. Hence, elaborate security arrangements should be made, he said and added that he had directed Home Minister K J George to soon convene a meeting in this regard.