Mysuru: Ever year, the govt has been organising Chamarajanagar Dasara along with Srirangapatna Dasara. However, this year the cancellation of the Chamarajanagar Dasara celebration by the state govt has disappointed people from all walks of life and folk artistes.In 2008, the govt extended Grameen Dasara to Chamarajanagar, which eventually became Chamarajanagar Dasara from 2013. It was held successfully until 2024. However, the govt suddenly cancelled it, disappointing folk art lovers in particular, as the district is known for folk arts. Last year, the govt provided Rs 2 crore for Chamarajanagar Dasara.Though members of various Kannada organisations, folk artistes, and several others lodged protests against the govt for the sudden stoppage of the celebration, the govt has failed to fulfil their demand of continuing Dasara in Chamarajanagar.In recent years, the state govt has been providing opportunities to thousands of artists in Chamarajanagar district, as it is the birthplace of various local folk heroes like Male Mahadeshwara, Manteswamy and Biligiri Ranganathaswamy, by organising cultural events like Grameena Dasara. It also organises cultural and other Dasara-related events at various venues like Dr Rajkumar Kalamandir, JH Patel auditorium, in front of the Chamarajeshwara Temple, and other locations.The department of Kannada and culture has registered 1,567 folk artistes in the district, and even 201 of them have been obtaining a monthly pension provided by the govt for folk artistes. There are more than 2,000 unregistered folk artists in the district.Even though the state govt has continued Dasara celebrations in the neighbouring district of Mandya and also conducted jalapatotsava-like cultural events, Chamarajanagar is deprived of such events this year.Folk singer CM Narasimhamurthy said that the announcement by CM Siddaramaiah that the state govt will not be conducting Dasara in Chamarajanagar has disappointed not only residents of Chamarajanagar but also folk artistrs. “Thousands of folk artistes depended upon such cultural events and eke out their living from the honorarium provided by the govt after participating in such events. But from this year, they are missing such opportunities,” he said.Shivashankar Chattu, a folk artiste, said the govt has not only insulted Chamarajanagar by suddenly stopping the organisation of Dasara events but is also causing injustice to folk artistes.T Javaregowda, Chamarajanagar ADC, said that the district administration has brought to notice the demands of folk artistes of the region to its higher-ups to organise Dasara celebrations. The govt has not provided grants for Chamarajanagar Dasara celebrations, he said. Akhila Karnataka Kannada Mahasabha president Ch Ra Srinivasagowda condemned the state govt for the sudden stoppage of Dasara celebrations in Chamarajanagar, even though the district shares emotional and cultural relations with the undivided Mysuru district. “There are connections between Chamarajanagar and the Maharajas of Mysuru, as the Chamarajeshwara Temple was constructed by the Wadiyars of Mysuru 200 years ago, he said.
