Mysuru: The countdown for the renowned Mysuru Dasara Jamboo Savari has begun, drawing lakhs of visitors to the city. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will offer prayers at the Nandi Dwaja between 1:41 PM and 2:10 PM. Following this, the procession will be flagged off by the Chief Minister between 4:00 PM and 4:30 PM during the auspicious Kumbha Lagna.

The elephant Abhimanyu will carry the 750-kg golden howdah with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari through the streets. A seating arrangement for 40,000 people has been made inside the palace premises to witness the grand event. The Jamboo Savari will start from the palace and reach Bannimantapa by the evening. This year’s Dasara celebration is expected to be even grander, with lakhs of people arriving from various parts of the state, leading to a massive crowd.

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Mangaluru: Fr Melwin J Pinto SJ, Pro-chancellor of St Aloysius University Rector of St Aloysius Institutions, and Vice President of Mangalore Jesuit Educational Society (MJES), breathed his last on Friday, April 10. He was 63.

Born in 1963, Fr Melwin Pinto completed his schooling and college education at St Aloysius before joining the Jesuit order on June 20, 1981. He was ordained as a Jesuit priest on April 14, 1997.

Over the years, he held several academic qualifications, including an MA in English, a Master’s degree in Education, and diplomas in psychology and counselling as well as school administration.

He began his career in education as headmaster of St Joseph’s Primary School and High School in Hassan, serving between 1996 and 1999.

He later founded St Joseph’s Indian PU College and served as its principal until 2007. He subsequently served as headmaster of St Aloysius High School, Mangaluru, from 2007 to 2011, and later as principal of St Joseph’s PU College, Hassan, until 2012.

Fr Melwin Pinto also worked with Vatican Communications and Radio in Rome, contributing to its English desk for Asia and Indian languages.
He later served as superior and director of Fatima Retreat House in Valencia for two years from May 2017, before being appointed as superior of the Jesuit study home ‘Vidyaniketan’ in Dharwad.

He was also closely associated with the development of St Aloysius Institutions and played a key role in securing the status of a Deemed-to-be University. His contribution to the education sector and efforts towards innovation were widely acknowledged. He was known for maintaining close relations with people from all sections of society. 

Legislative Council MLA Ivan D’Souza, in a statement, said the demise of Fr Melwin J Pinto was a huge loss to the educational and religious fields and had created a significant void in society.

Dakshina Kannada District in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also expressed grief, stating that his service and contributions to education would always be remembered.

Details regarding the funeral are yet to be announced.