Mandya: The historic 416th edition of Srirangapatna Dasara will be inaugurated by Kannada actor V Ravichandran on Oct 15, while the six-day Cauvery Aarti near the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir will commence on Oct 11, district minister N Cheluvarayaswamy said on Saturday.Addressing mediapersons at the ZP auditorium here, Cheluvarayaswamy said the Dasara celebrations would be held in the traditional manner despite the prevailing drought conditions. There would be no reduction in the scale of the historic festival, he said, adding that it reflects the rich cultural heritage of Srirangapatna.As part of the celebrations, a two-day Yuva Sambhrama will be organised on Oct 12 and 13, providing a platform for local youth to showcase their talent. Modelled on the popular Yuva Sambhrama held during Mysuru Dasara, the event will feature performances by local artistes. The main Dasara festivities will be held from Oct 15 to 18.The minister said the Cauvery Aarti, introduced at KRS last year, would be held for six days beginning Oct 11. Such traditional programmes play an important role in preserving and promoting Karnataka’s cultural heritage, he said. The chief minister is scheduled to inaugurate the Cauvery Aarti.Earlier, the minister and other dignitaries unveiled the official logo of the 416th Srirangapatna Dasara. The emblem features a golden gopuram symbolising the historic Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, the inscription “416th”, and an elephant carrying the Jamboo Savari howdah. Traditional motifs, royal pillars, kalashas and decorative foliage in gold, red and green enhance its appeal.
