From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 17: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday marked the formal commencement of Karnataka’s world-famous Dasara festival celebrations in Mysuru by offering puja to goddess Chamundeshwari.

Dr C N Manjunath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, inaugurated the celebrations.

For the first time, the Dasara celebrations that attract vast crowds from all over the world, has been completely scaled down on account of the Corona pandemic. In a bid to restrict the assembly of large number of crowds, the State Government has issued strict guidelines restricting the total number of guests to 200 with adherence of social distancing, wearing of masks and other protocols. The traditional Jumbo Savari with elephants has been confined only to the Mysuru Palace.

In another first, the State Government has decided to honour six Corona warriors for their exemplary work in the containing the spread of the pandemic and taking care of the patients. The Chief Minister honoured the six Corona warriors.

Cooperation Minister S T Somashekar, who is also the district in-charge minister, Agriculture Minister B S Patil, Pratap Simha, Mysuru MP, legislators G T Deve Gowda, S A Ramadas, Adaguru H Vishwanath, Niranjanakumar, L Nagendra, N Mahesh, Harshavardhan, KT Srikantegowda, Mysuru Zilla Panchayat President B C Parimala Shyam, Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) chairman H V Rajheev, Mysuru City Mayor Tasneem, Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri, Kannada and Culture Department Director Rangappa were among the dignitaries who were present.