Will organise 'meaningful, grand' Mysuru Dasara this year; plans afoot to host air show too: CM
Bengaluru, July 31: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the government has decided to organise Mysuru Dasara in a ''meaningful and grand way'' and is planning to have an ''air show'' as part of the celebrations this year.
The chief minister said this after chairing a Dasara high-level committee meeting here.
Celebrated as ''Nada Habba'' (state festival), Dasara festivities are a grand affair in the palace city of Mysuru every year, depicting Karnataka's rich culture and traditions, coupled with reminiscence of royal pomp and glory.
''It is the opinion of the members of the Dasara high-level committee to organise Mysuru Dasara Mahotsava in a meaningful and grand way. Dasara is a traditional festival and it should become a people's festival,'' Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting.
Light decorations across Mysuru, processions, 'Jamboo Savari' (a procession of caparisoned elephants), and tableaus are the main attraction of the Dasara festival, he said. While selecting tableaus this time, it will be ensured that they inform people about the state's traditions, special aspects of various districts, and implementation of the five guarantees schemes of the government, he said.
''Dasara's another main attraction, the torchlight parade, along with cultural events, film festival, Raita (farmers) Dasara, and Yuva (youth) Dasara will be there this year as well,'' he added.
The 10-day event every year showcases Karnataka's cultural heritage resplendent with folk art forms, and attracts large crowds and tourists.
Siddaramaiah said the Dasara celebrations would be inaugurated at Chamundi Hills on October 15 at an auspicious time between 10:15 to 10:30 am after offering prayers to goddess Chamundeshwari. A Dasara exhibition will also be inaugurated on the same day.
Light decorations at the palace, important buildings and trees across Mysuru city will begin on October 15 and will remain for a week after the end of the festivities, he said. ''Officials have been told that light decorations should be good and this time and it should be done in nearby areas too.'' The CM said he has asked officials to give priority to local artists from the state in cultural programmes.
Stating that the committee has authorised him to choose the chief guest of the Dasara inauguration, he said he will discuss and decide on it.
''Dasara should be grand, but there should not be any unnecessary spending, and it should attract more tourists,'' he said, adding that the 'Dasara Executive Committee' will submit a proposal on how much funds are needed for the celebrations, and accordingly the government will decide.
Stating that there are also plans to organise an air show during Dasara, Siddaramaiah said he will discuss with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about it.
It has also been decided to organise Dasara in Srirangapatna and Chamarajanagar as per usual practice.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
