A preliminary meeting was held at the Madikeri Deputy Commissioner’s office hall in the presence of MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda, Madikeri City Municipal Council President P. Kalavathi, Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja, Kodagu District Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, Deputy Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar, Dasara Committee Working President Arun Kumar and others. It was decided to celebrate Madikeri Janotsava Dasara with enthusiasm, pomp, safety and cleanliness.
Speaking at the meeting, MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda said that Madikeri Dasara, which has been conducted from the past, should be celebrated in a systematic manner. He stressed that special emphasis should be given to the safety of tableaux and the people. Police should be deployed at each temple tableau. He further directed that the potholes on the roads where the Karaga and Dashamantapas pass should be filled properly.
On the same occasion, Dr. Mantar Gowda informed that a delegation will meet the Chief Minister, the Kannada and Culture Minister, and the District In-charge Minister in the first week of September regarding the release of funds.
The MLA also directed the Forest and CESC departments to take necessary steps to repair power lines and remove fallen trees, if any. He added that another meeting will be held under the chairmanship of the District In-charge Minister and in the presence of officials shortly. Dr. Mantar Gowda further stated that Madikeri Dasara is unique and different. Necessary steps should be taken regarding public safety, vehicle parking, and other arrangements, and he requested everyone’s cooperation in this regard.
Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja said that Madikeri Dasara reflects the traditional culture of the society. Organizing cultural programs in a grand manner and celebrating women’s, children’s, youth, and sports Dasara are its special features, he said, and requested everyone’s cooperation. He also emphasized that worshipping the four Shakti deities and celebrating through Karaga Utsav is unique to Madikeri Dasara. He noted that stage setting, lighting, and sound arrangements are special attractions and appealed to everyone to contribute in making Madikeri Dasara festive and meaningful. He also instructed that more emphasis should be given to safety and directed CESC, the Municipal Administration, and other departments to extend cooperation as in previous years.
District Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan said that since most people come to view Madikeri Dasara at night, public safety is of utmost importance. He assured that the police department will ensure safety of property, arrange for vehicle parking, and manage smooth vehicular movement on both State and National Highways. He informed that suitable measures, including checkposts, will be put in place to prevent untoward incidents.
The District Superintendent of Police stressed that obtaining safety certificates from the Regional Transport Officer for the construction of the ten tableaux from various temples is necessary. Safety during the procession of the tableaux is of highest importance. Responding to this, MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda stated that so far no certificate has been obtained from the RTO. He said that since the ten tableaux committees already have experience, they should continue as before, but in any case, safety should be the first priority.
The Superintendent of Police further stated that firecrackers should not be burst in crowded places and should be used only in safe areas. He reminded that everyone has the responsibility to follow the Standard Operating Procedure regarding crowd management, loudspeaker usage, and other directions issued by the government. He also suggested that an exhibition of Kodagu’s art could be organized during Madikeri Dasara. Emphasis should be laid on cleanliness, and garbage should not be thrown indiscriminately.
The Superintendent of Police announced that more police personnel will be deployed, CCTV cameras will be installed, and a helpline center will be started. He directed that arrangements be made for smooth traffic movement on Rajaseat Road and that noise levels be controlled so that families can comfortably enjoy the celebrations.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Barike Dinesh Kumar said that the competition among the ten tableaux has increased and expressed the opinion that it would be better if there were no competition. Dasara Committee General Secretary Arun Shetty praised the cooperation of forest department officials and requested everyone’s support. Committee member Dhananjaya pointed out that RTO permission for the tableaux had never been obtained in the past and requested that Dasara celebrations be allowed to continue in the traditional manner.
Rajesh, another committee member, assured that rules regarding tableaux will be followed but requested that excessive pressure not be imposed. He said that DJs are essential to narrate the stories of the tableaux and emphasized that all committees have been working hard for months, so additional restrictions should be avoided.
Municipal Council Vice President Mahesh Jaini said that since thousands of people come to view the tableaux, RTO permission is not necessary. He warned that imposing too many regulations would affect the grandeur of Madikeri Dasara. MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda reiterated that public safety is of utmost importance. He advised tableaux organizers to take responsibility on their own initiative and ensure safety while preparing the tableaux.
Journalist Savita Rai requested that the accounts of the 2024 Dasara be published. Responding to this, Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja clarified that the funds released by the government have been spent and the amounts were directly transferred to the respective temple accounts through RTGS. He also stated that no gold cards were issued and no contributions were collected from the public.
Municipal Commissioner H.R. Ramesh, police officials, Dasara committee office-bearers, and others were present at the meeting.
