Mysuru: SM Krishna, former chief minister of Karnataka along with CM Basavaraj Bommai inaugurated the world-famous Mysuru Dasara festival on Thursday. The famed Mysuru Dasara will begin on October 7 and end on October 15. 

The government decided to SM Krishna as this year's guest, as per the government's view, not just because Krishna was a former CM, but because he was a seasoned statesman and had carried out various development works when he held important positions.  

In Karnataka, Dasara is observed as State festival - Nadahabba, because of the celebration of the festival is steered by the Royal Family of Mysore. The royal family of Mysore performs special pooja on the occasion of Dasara.

The Dasara executive committee has decided that 55-year-old tusker Abhimanyu will lead the team of eight elephants taking part in the jumbo savari this year. The cultural and religious festival has been scheduled to be inaugurated atop the Chamundi Hills on October 7 between 8.15 am and 8.45 am. 

Covid guidelines: 

Every year, on the last day of the Navaratri, a grand procession of the goddess Chamundeshwari’s idol atop an elephant is taken out from Mysore Palace through the streets of the city.The Karnataka government has issued fresh lockdown guidelines for Dussehra allowing only 500 people to participate in the October 15 ‘Jambu Savari’.

The fresh guidelines from the state government come as the state recently witnessed a massive shortage of hospital beds and oxygen crisis during the second wave of coronavirus in April-May.