Mysuru: Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Swami, pontiff of the Gavisiddheshwara Mutt (Gavi Mutt), Koppal, will be the seventh seer to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara in the last three-and-a-half decades, and the first pontiff to receive the honour under a Congress govt.The tradition of inviting prominent personalities to inaugurate Dasara began in 1993, when veteran actor Rajkumar performed the honours. Since then, actors, actresses, progressive farmers, rationalists, poets, musicians and freedom fighters have been chosen for the honour.The tradition changed in 2007, when the then HD Kumaraswamy govt invited Sri Balagangadharanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt to inaugurate Dasara. In 2008, the BJP govt continued the practice and invited Sri Shivakumara Swami of Siddaganga Mutt. Sri Ravishankar Guruji, Sri D Veerendra Heggade, Sri Vishewesha Thirtha Swami and Sri Siddeshwara Swami later inaugurated Dasara.When Siddaramaiah became chief minister for the first time in 2013, the Congress govt returned to selecting personalities from the fields of literature, culture and social life. Writers Chandrashekhara Kambar, Girish Karnad, progressive farmer Puttaiah, poets laureate Chennaveera Kanavi and KS Nissar Ahmed were among those chosen.In 2018, during the JD(S)-Congress coalition govt led by HD Kumaraswamy, Sudha Murty of Infosys Foundation inaugurated Dasara. After the BJP returned to power, SL Bhyrappa, CN Manjunath, SM Krishna and President Droupadi Murmu were chosen. Between 2023 and 2025, Hamsalekha, Hampa Nagarajaiah and Banu Mushtaq inaugurated Dasara.Mysore MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar welcomed the decision to invite the Gavi Mutt seer to inaugurate the public Dasara.However, some progressive leaders have opposed the move, citing that it may dilute the very purpose of celebrating Dasara. Backward Classes Awareness Forum convener KS Shivaramu said the Gavi Mutt and its seer are highly revered and their contribution to society is invaluable.“However, Dasara is a cultural festival and the govt should not have invited a seer to inaugurate it,” he said. He also expressed concern that the decision could set a precedent for different caste groups to demand the honour for their seers, potentially leading to caste-based divisions in Dasara celebrations.
