Mysore : Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala, Dr.D. Veerendra Heggade formally inaugurated   the 400th Mysore Dasara festival today. Heggade performing puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari atop Chamundi Hill at 8.40 am  in the auspicious Vrischika lagna between 8.31 am and 9.01 am.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa too worshipped the Goddess along with Dr. Heggade, District in-Charge Minister S.A. Ramdas, Mayor Sandesh Swamy and others. Yeddyurappa and Dr. Heggade arrived at the venue at 8.15 am. After darshan at the temple, they came to the pandal and completed the formalities at the Silver Mantap in which the idol of the Goddess had been placed.

Naadageethe and the prayer song were rendered by students of University Fine Arts College. B.R. Jayaramaraje Urs, Principal Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture welcomed.
Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, Dr. Heggade remarked that the Wadiyar dynasty has played a stellar role in sustaining the tradition of Dasara after Vijayanagar empire. Stating that there is a close relation between Mysore and Dharmasthala dating back to 400 years, he said Yakshagana expert Kumarayya Heggade received treatment for an eye ailment 300 years ago by a doctor from Mysore. The Yakshagana troupes were regular visitors to Mysore.
State Planning Board Deputy Chairman Ramachandragowda, Lok Sabha Member A.H. Viswanath, ZP President S.N. Siddhartha, Vice-President Nandini Chandrashekhar, MLCs Prof. K.R. Mallikarjunappa, Thontadarya and G. Madhusudan, KHB Chairman G.T. Devegowda, Zoo Authority Chairman Nanjundaswamy, KEA Chairman B.P. Manjunath, SC,ST Development Corporation Chairman A.R. Krishnamurthy, Dy. Commissioner Harsha Gupta, Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal, MUDA Commissioner P.C. Jayanna, MCC Commissioner K.S. Raikar and others were present.