Mahisha Mandala Utsav passes off peacefully in Mysuru amid prohibitory orders

NT Correspondent Mysuru: Amid prohibitory orders, the controversial Mahisha Mandala Utsava concluded peacefully here on Sunday after the organisers dropped their plans to offer floral tributes to the statue of Mahishasura atop Chamundi Hills. Police had ensured tight security and also imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in Mysuru, including the Chamundi Hills area, due to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Mahisha Dasara celebrations with pro-Hindu activists opposing it.. The Mahisha Dasara celebration was therefore restricted to Town Hall where writers and progressive thinker Yogesh Master offered floral tributes to the bronze mini idol of Mahishasura.

Addressing the gathering, Mahisha Mandolotsava Celebration committee convener and former mayor Purushottam expressed his serious displeasure against the district administration and police for stopping them from offering floral tributes to the statue of Mahishasura atop Chamundi hill though they had assured a peaceful event peacefully without any disturbance to social harmony. He asserted that Mahishasura, was a Dravidian king and a follower of Buddhism. Purushotam also warned that as the state government did not allow them to offer floral tributes to their king, members of his committee will not allow the government to inaugurate the Dasara celebrations atop Chamundi Hill on October 3.

A huge procession carrying the portrait of King Ashoka, will also be taken out from Dr BR Ambedkar Park in Ashokapuram till Dr BR Ambedkar Bhavan on October 12 on the same day the Vijayadashami procession happens, he said. Urilinga Peddimutt Jnanaprakash Swami, Bodhi Datta Bantheji, writers and progressive thinkers Shivasundar and Prof K S Bhagavan, historian Prof P V Nanjaraj Urs and writer Siddaswamy were present.