Mysuru: The world famous Dasara festivities began on a traditional note as former Union Minister SM Krishna offered pooja to city's presiding deity Goddess Chamundeswari atop Chamundi Hills here on Thursday.

Due to Covid-19, the state government is celebrating the 412th Mysuru Dasara festivities in a simple and symbolic manner.
Ahead of the inaugural ceremony, the temple priests performed various rituals from 4am. The ceremonial bath was given to the presiding deity and later decorated the Goddess with a silk sari and flowers on a silver chariot.

Krishna extended poornakumbham reception with Nandi Dhwaja and later along with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former CM BS Yediyurappa and other dignitaries, performed the "pushparchane" to the idol.

As per Covid guidelines only 100 people assembled for the pooja.

Speaking on the occasion, Krishna reminisced his school days on Chamundi Hills and thanked Bommai for choosing him for inaugurating the Nada Habba.

He asked the government to boost tourism in Mysuru and surrounding areas so that it gives an impetus to economic activity and provides jobs to the people.

He complimented Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to make India as one the most developed countries in the world.

Earlier, Bommai, along with his wife, offered special pooja to Goddess Cauvery at the Krishnaraja Sagar Reservoir.

Maysuru Dasara was celebrated for the first time by Raja Wadiyar in Srirangapatna, which was the capital city of Mysuru province, in 1610.

Raja Wadiyar emulated the Vijayanagar rulers in celebrating the Dasara festival.

Mysuru Dasara is associated with the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by Goddess Chamundeshwari, who is another form of Durga worshipped widely in West Bengal and eastern India.

On October 15, the Jumbo Savaari will be held between 5 pm to 5:30 pm and then the same evening at 4:36 pm to 4:44 pm the Nandi Dhwaja pooja will be performed.

The Savaari is a grand procession where elephants carry idols of deities including Goddess Chamundeshwari, but this year due to Covid, the number of elephants are restricted to eight and the procession will not pass through the main thoroughfares of the streets.

The procession has been restricted to the Palace premises, with only limited people allowed in attendance.