A four-day “Mysooru Utsava” showcasing art, culture and entertainment is to be held in Mysore from June 26. “Spearheaded” by the minister in charge of Mysore district, G.T. Deve Gowda, the show will be held along the lines of “Bangalore Habba”. A folk dance procession of 1,000 artistes, recitals of dances of various forms, a festival of films of the late Dr Raj Kumar, a food and humour festival, and music concerts are among the items on the menu, according to the convenor of the event, Deepak Thimaya.
So far, so good. But is this a one-off or an annual event? Does Mysore need another art, culture and entertainment festival when it stages the Dasara extravaganza every year? Or is more the merrier? If the Rs 2.5 crore tab is being picked up by patrons, sponsors and advertisers—and the State Government is not involved—is the minister merely shining in reflected glory? Should the ‘Mysooru Utsava’ seek to ape the Dasara or should it carve a younger, hipper niche for itself, a bit like ‘Yuva Dasara’?
Mysore Dasara showcases the arts, culture, tradition of Mysore. The pomp and grandeur is well known. So another utsava is not needed.
DT Deve Gowda intentions + Deepak Thimayya skills. My prayers with Mysooru…
allenaadru galeej maaDi ODi hodre ee thimayyange penalise maaDbeku
It can become an overkill of culture.GTD should concentrate in making the city a cleaner Mysore, make sure MCC, including its commissioner, do not shirk work and prepare Mysore for Dasara.
Instead of planning a Mysooru Utsav, G T Deve Gowda will do well to visit Sindhuvalli and Pushpagiri, where hundreds of people have taken ill and sufferring from suspected Chikungunya.
Is it not a classic case of Nero fiddling when the Rome was burning ?
Somebody should suggest G T Deve Gowda to dump the idea of Mysooru Utsav and use the Rs 2.5 crore he has collected from patrons, sponsors and advertisers to hold an Arogya Utsav to provide medicine the ill.
After these worthies coming in turns to Mysore whatever art and culture there was has vanished. The attempt is to showcase themselves. Mysore must be left in peace and if the authorities concentrate on their work Mysore becomes cleaner, that is art and as for the culture if all those crass advertisements destroying the ambience of the place are taken out and smelly lakes are restored to its pristine stage it becomes culture show. if pig menace and festering garbage are removed it becomes art and culture and if they stop attending innumerable functions and speaking promising moon we can hear music in peace
I am sure patrons will not dole out Rs. 2.5 crores for this unwanted Uthsav. Whatever money is proposed to be spent on the Uthsav, the same should be used for restoring the lost beauty of Mysore.
I feel, Mysore needs a Utsava like this. Its such a silent palce and boring, that a Utsava like this will really keep the spirits of Mysoreans up.
build and maintain toilets, provide neat pavements, introduce more guides, provide better transport facility…just get the basic amenities in place with this rs.2.5 crs. What more do we want than the great Dasara?
“Its such a silent palce and boring….”
After Bangalore, silent and boring sounds like heaven.
I agree. The need of the hour is a cleaner Mysore, good roads and particularly pavements for the pedestrians who are often chased out of existence. Mysore was always a quieter city and that was the quintessence of Mysore, and Mysore I knew was not boring, it was a lively city in a cultural way. Dasara should be enough for Mysore as one major activity.
Let’s face it. People who oppose Mysore Utsav are the ones who can find entertainment even otherwise, else where. I was glad to know that Mysore Utsav is going to be in a free to view format so even people who cannot afford the paid passes during Dasara can also enjoy quality shows. Why be cynical, always? Anyway the government money is not being used, right? I think good entertainment should always be welcome.
at least, if at all, they go ahead with the Utsava, will they ensure during that period that the Autos which run on kerosene and exume poison are kept out of the city.. like they did to the pigs!
Definitely Mysore need a utsava which is different from dasara. People here have commented about the cleaner Mysore is need of the hour, what utsava got to do with this?? When these people hear about Rs 2.5 crores, they talk about better use of money etc…Remember this money is not govt money but this is collected from donors and corporates. Definitely cleaner and greener Mysore should be priority , but it doesn’t mean that we should stop all entertainments till we achieve that.
I couldn’t write earlier because i didnt have the answer. But yes, now, after the Mysooru Utsava is over, I am damn sure that Mysore needed a Mysooru Utsava.
It is only an example of how simple things in life such as pure entertainment for ourselves gets complicated and embroiled in controversy through mismanagment of information by the so-called media people. What we witnessed was a never before extravaganza on the Maharaja College Ground and the several other unique programs held through out the city. Some people may still say that they didnt get passes or they were not too sure of the programs of the day. But then, the festival was for the people. If Deepak Thimaya and party put together such fantastic shows that would last a year, the least that we as citizens of Mysore could have done is made our own attempts to be part of it, than pass comments on some insipid issues. We are known to be cultured people and let us remain like that for as long as we can. All the people whom i have known have been happy about it. Some programs such as the dramas may have been done better but then it is okay. For a first time the organisers have done an extraordinary work. I take liberty to thank them all wholeheartedly on behalf of all Mysoreans. Good job. And Good Luck. We look forward to the Mysooru Utsava next year 2008. !!