Covid-19 scare: Mysuru winter festival cancelled

Mysuru: The Mysuru district administration has decided to drop 'Mysuru winter festival' scheduled to begin from December 24 in view of the Covid-19 scare. Instead, it's planning to host 'Mysuru Habba' in a grand way in March/April next year to revive tourism.

Speaking to The Hans India, Mysuru district in-charge minister S.T. Somashekar confirmed the cancellation of Mysuru winter festival. "The Covid 19 technical advisory committee (TAC) is not permitting any events to prevent mass gathering. So we have no plans to host the festival this year. But, since we could not host Dasara and Panchalinga darshana too in a very grand manner, we are planning to organise 'Mysuru Habba' on a grand scale in March or April to give boost to tourism if the pandemic threat recedes. In order to bring people out of the gloom, we will think of hosting virtually music concerts in front of Mysuru Palace for the year end," he said.

As Mysuru is a major tourism destination, with over 70 percent of the population depending on the sector in one way or the other, in order to woo tourists for the year-end bash, every year from December 24 to January 1, the district administration organises Mysuru winter festival. As part of the fest, Mysuru Palace board holds a dolls show, photo exhibition and a mega flower show.

Last year they came up with huge floral models of old wooden Mysuru Palace and Bengaluru palace besides displaying 23 species of colourful flowers in 20,000 flower pots. Tourism department hosted musical concert every evening in front of illuminated Mysuru Palace during the fest. They even hosted fireworks display at the backdrop of illuminated Mysuru Palace at 12 am on 1 January, like it is done at Eiffel tower in Paris and Burj Khalifa at Dubai to usher New Year. Bird festival, cake festival, food festival, open street festival were other features of the event.

Usually the preparation for flower show begins at least three months in advance. But predicting the situation in advance, Mysuru Palace board has made no preparations this year. When contacted Mysuru Palace board director T.S. Subramanya said, "We are planning to host a flower show in a grander way during March/April for 'Yugadi Utsav' or 'Mysore Habba'".

When contacted tourism joint director for Mysuru division, Motilal Lamani, said, "We have not made any preparations for any tourism promotion events as of now, to attract New Year tourists, as we do not want gathering of crowd to prevent the spread of coronavirus. We will plan to revive tourism with promotional events in March/April."

Mysuru Hotel Owners Association president C.Narayangowda said that they are not hosting cake show or food festival this year.

No Kodagu Pravasi Utsav

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy too confirmed that they do not have any plans for "Kodagu Pravasi Utsav" and flower show at Raja Seat, or any other events for the year-end this time