By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

The Palace City of Mysuru is decked up again, counting down the seconds to the inauguration of the annual Dasara celebrations. During the 10-day festivities, the city will play host to a plethora of religious and cultural events, to keep up the tradition of Navaratri festival that began in 1610.

Celebrated as ‘‘Nada Habba’‘ (state festival), the festivities are expected to be a grand affair this year depicting Karnataka’s rich culture and traditions, coupled with reminiscence of royal pomp and glory.

Incidentally, a controversy broke out over the Karnataka government’s decision to invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year’s Mysuru Dasara. After the Supreme Court quashed a petition challenging the State’s move to invite her, decks were cleared for the schedule of events.

The writer is scheduled to make a floral offering to the idol of Chamundeshwari between 10.10 and 10.40 am in a stage set up outside Chamundeshwari temple.

This year’s Dasara celebration will be for eleven-days, till ‘Vijayadashami’ on October 2, based on the lunar calendar.