Symbolic Inauguration of Kaveri Aarti on First Day of Dussehra Festival

Bengaluru: In a significant decision, the state government has decided to organise a symbolic inauguration of Kaveri Aarti on the first day of the Dussehra festival, October 3, at Shrirangapattana in Mandya district.

This decision was taken after a delegation of Congress ministers and MLAs, led by Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, met with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

The delegation, which included MLAs from Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar districts, had recently visited Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Haridwar in Uttarakhand to study the organization of Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Ganga River.

According to Congress MLC Dinesh Gooligouda, who was part of the delegation, "We have decided to organize a symbolic Kaveri Aarti on October 3 at Shrirangapattana. After the construction of permanent structures on the banks of the Kaveri River, the Aarti will be held for at least five days a week."

Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar has directed the delegation to submit a detailed report on the organisation and location of the Kaveri Aarti, which will be developed as a major religious and cultural tourist spot. Gooligouda said that the identified location should have a consistent water flow throughout the year.

The report is expected to include the unique features of all districts in the Kaveri basin. The government is likely to release funds for the construction of permanent structures and infrastructure for the Aarti.

It is worth noting that during his visit to the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam a few months ago, Shivakumar had mentioned that the state government was considering organizing Kaveri Aarti on the banks of the Kaveri River. Gooligouda, who was part of the delegation that visited Haridwar and Varanasi, said that around 40,000 people participate in the Ganga Aarti in these cities, and the proposed Kaveri Aarti is expected to boost tourism in the region.