Hampa Nagarajaiah inaugurates Mysuru Dasara 2024

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Dy CM D. K. Shivakumar, several Ministers participate in the inauguration of 10-day festivities atop Chamundi hills

The ten-day Dasara 2024 festivities got off to a traditional start atop Chamundi Hills in Mysuru on October 3. The chief guest, noted writer Hampa Nagarajaiah, lit a lamp and showered flowers on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed in a silver chariot in the temple, to inaugurate the grand celebrations.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar, Ministers H. C. Mahadevappa, K. Venkatesh, K. H. Muniyappa, H. K. Patil and Shivaraj Tangadagi, MLAs G. T. Deve Gowda and Tanveer Sait were among those who participated in the inaugural event.

Prior to the inaugural event, Mr Nagarajaiah visited Sri Chamundeshwari temple and offered a special puja. Mr Nagarajaiah was accompanied by his family members, the Chief Minister, the Dy CM and other dignitaries.

Mysuru Dasara inauguration by Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah

Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah Inaugurating Dasara festivities atop Chamundi Hills in Mysuru on October 3, 2024.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah felicitating Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah.

Organisers welcoming Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
1/3

Writer’s advice to politicians

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Nagarajaiah advised against attempting to dislodge elected governments.

“I appeal to the Goddess Chamundeshwari to stop people from getting the thought of toppling elected governments, and safeguard elected governments. It is easy to demolish, but tough to build. Frequent elections (in case a government falls) are a burden on the common people, who are already facing difficulties. The common man will collapse if more burden is imposed on him. It is not possible for any one particular party to remain in power. The defeated party needs five years to come back to power, winning over the hearts of the people,” the writer said, perhaps referring to the recent political developments in Karnataka and verbal fights among leaders from the ruling and opposition parties.

The writer also prayed to the goddess to put an end to the ongoing war in West Asia, and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as the hostilities were causing the death of hundreds of innocent people. The leaders of those countries must, instead, look after the welfare of their countrymen.

In his address, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described Hampana as an eminent writer and added that he should have got the opportunity of inaugurating the Dasara festivities in Mysuru much earlier.

Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, in his speech, said he was happy that Hampana inaugurated this year’s festivities. He is the ‘pailwan’ (giant) of the literary world. “Hampa Nagarajaiah is like my guru. I have known him for the last 55 years since his son Harsha was my classmate. The absence of the writer’s wife Kamala Hampana (who passed away recently) is palpable.”

Published - October 03, 2024 02:16 pm IST