Mysuru Dasara sign of Karnataka's culture; Chamundeshwari symbolises power in woman: Banu Mushtaq
Mysuru (PTI): International Booker Prize-winning writer Banu Mushtaq, who inaugurated Mysuru Dasara on Monday, called the festival a symbol of Karnataka's collective culture.
Mysuru's presiding deity, Goddess Chamundeshwari, symbolises power in a woman and her undefeatable will power, she said, adding that womanhood stands not only for softness and motherly affection, but also for strength that fights injustice.
The famous 11-day Dasara celebrations commenced in this city of palaces on Monday amid religious and traditional fervour, with Banu Mushtaq inaugurating the festivities.
The inauguration took place amid controversy, with objections from some sections against the government's decision to invite Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the festival.
She inaugurated the festivities during the auspicious "Vrushchika Lagna" by showering flowers on the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari amid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests, at Chamundeshwari temple here.
Earlier, she, along with CM visited the Chamundeshwari temple and offered prayers to the goddess.
In her inaugural address, Mushtaq said, "Our culture is our root, harmony is our strength, and economy is our wings. Let's build a new society that is filled with human values and love, along with our youth in India -- that is also strong educationally, economically, and industrially. Let everyone have an equal share and opportunity in that society".
Sharing her bonding with the Hindu religion, she said, "I have been to various events, have been invited to many, I have lit lamps and offered flowers a number of times and have accepted Mangalarati. This is not new to me."
She thanked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his government for standing by her morally and inviting her to inaugurate Dasara, despite several challenges.
Stating that the grand Dasara festival is being inaugurated with the grace of goddess Chamundeshwari, Mushtaq said her visit to Chamundeshwari Devi temple was pending and the opportunity to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara helped her fulfil a vow.
"I had already said during an interview that one of my writer friends in Mysuru had prayed for Goddess Chamundeshwari, when my name was nominated for the Booker Prize and took a vow of bringing me to the temple, due to some reason I couldn't visit earlier, but the Goddess Chamundi has called me through an invitation from the government," she said.
"Despite several ups and downs and various kinds of historic situations getting created on this matter, Mother Goddess Chamundeshwari has called me here and I have come before you from her presence (at the temple)," she added.
The Supreme Court on Friday had dismissed a plea challenging the Karnataka High Court's decision upholding the state government's invitation to Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara.
Calling the inauguration of Dasara with the grace of the mother goddess as the most respectful moment in her life, Mushtaq said, "Dasara is the symbol of our collective culture".
"From the cultural heritage of the Mysuru kings to the echo of Kannada deep inside our hearts, this festival reminds us that culture is the amalgamation of various voices, the fragrance of unity in diversity," she said.
Noting that Urdu-speaking people of Mysru have their own symbolic name in Urdu for each day of Navaratri, as it is part of their culture, Mushtaq said, no one is different or an outsider; this is a cultural festival that everyone celebrates together.
Recalling that one of her uncles was a soldier in the bodyguard troop of Mysuru Maharaja, he said, Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar had kept faith in Muslims and he had placed them as his bodyguards. "It really makes me feel proud."
Culture is something that bridges and unites hearts, spreading love is its aim, not hate, the writer said, her religious beliefs and life lessons have never crossed the threshold and has always followed humanitarian aspects.
The culture of this land has taught me the lesson of respecting all, she said. "At a time when the world is moving on the path of war and humanity is immersed in hatred and bloodshed let Mysuru Dasara send out a message of peace and harmony, as this is the garden of peace for all communities."
She called upon the people to respect the values of democracy, respect each other's beliefs and culture, and said, may Goddess Chamundeshwari guide us on this path. "Chamundeshwari is the symbol of strength, courage, motherly affection and protection. May she destroy hate and intolerance in us."
Noting that her religious beliefs and life lessons have always been humanitarian, like a shade under the tree, with coolness as river, she said, at the time of war globally, we can win life through letters (education), not weapons, through love, not hatred.
Let this land become a symphony of harmony and unity. Democracy is not just a system but a value, and respecting it is the duty of everyone.
"We are all travellers under one sky. The sky doesn't differentiate between people, and the land does not expel anyone. It is man who builds boundaries; we should wipe out boundaries," she said.
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Om Birla attends swearing-in of new B'desh PM, says India stands ready to support BNP govt
New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday attended the swearing-in ceremony of new Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, and said India stands ready to support Bangladesh's endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation.
Separately, the speaker called on the new Bangladesh prime minister and conveyed the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He also handed over an invitation from Prime Minister Modi to Rahman to visit India, officials said here.
“Glad to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka today. India stands ready to support Bangladesh’s endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation,” Birla posted on X.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said in a post on X, “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveys his greetings to India and PM Narendra Modi to the visiting India Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at a courtesy meet following the swearing-in of the new government.
“Speaker Birla conveyed wishes and an invitation to India. Both leaders expressed optimism to work together for the well-being of the people of Bangladesh and India, pursuing a people-centric menu of cooperation.”
Birla also met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and other leaders on the sidelines of the event.
Led by Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept to power with a two-thirds majority with 49.97 per cent votes and 209 seats in the polls held on February 12, results for which were declared on February 13.
The Jamaat-e-Islami, which was opposed to Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, registered its best-ever performance with 31.76 per cent votes and 68 seats.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) secured the third-highest number of seats, six, and 3.05 per cent votes.
Bangladesh had invited Narendra Modi to the ceremony, but the prime minister could not attend the event as he was scheduled to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday.
On reaching Dhaka, Birla said the swearing-in of Rahman was an important moment that would strengthen people-to-people relations and shared democratic values between the two neighbours.
“Honoured to be in Dhaka representing India at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Tarique Rahman as the prime minister. It's an important moment that will strengthen people-to-people ties and shared democratic values between our two nations,” Birla said.
Birla was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials.
