Mysore : The Dasara festivities got off to a colourful start with Jnanpith awardee and writer Chandrashekar Kambar offering prayers to Godess Chamundeshwari placed on a silver chariot atop Chamundi Hills on Saturday.

Kambar, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and District Minister V Srinivasa Prasad lit the traditional lamp and offered prayers to Chamundeshwari in Vrischikalagna. The state guests arrived atop Chamundi Hills, which had a festive atmosphere, as hundreds of women congregated to extend the poorna kumba reception.

Hundreds of folk artistes performed atop the hill, attracting tourists and devotees. The guests then proceeded to the dais and inaugurated the 403rd Dasara. The festivities took a political turn when Kambar made a controversial political statement which did not go down well with Opposition parties. He said the life of Kannadigas was miserable, as the state was ruled by an unstable government in the past few years.

He said the collective wish of the people to bring a new government headed by a CM from Mysore had added glitter to the festival. He wished that the Dasara festivities will be a good beginning for both the public and the government.

Turning his attention on globalisation, Kambar said globalisation had adversely affected rural life, the bond between human beings and the environment.

He said people, who opted for a modern lifestyle, depended on science and technology that led to inflated egos as well as divided people giving rise to hatred among human beings. “The credit of giving the Dasara festival a Kannada stamp should go the Wadiyars,” he said. As the era of Wadiyar rule ended, democratically elected governments have continued the celebrations to showcase Kanrnataka’s art and culture, he added.

The CM called Dasara a ‘secular festival’ involving 6.5 crore people of all caste, creed and religion.