Caption: K.R. Ramakrishna, Commissioner, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage.
Mysore, Apr. 20
The historic Mysore Dasara will be included in the list of World Heritage, said the newly-appointed Commissioner of the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, K.R. Ramakrishna.
Visiting the city for the first time after assuming office, Ramakrishna, in a tete-a-tete with SOM on Wednesday, recalled that though the State government had attempted to get the Mysore Dasara listed under the UNESCO, it had failed to effectively portray the festival as of having heritage value.
“Dasara does not mean the present day Yuva Dasara, Mane Mane Dasara, Rangoli Dasara, Yoga Dasara etc. Accept it or not, it is a legacy of the erstwhile rulers of Mysore kingdom, the traditional grandeur of which has been retained and followed to this day in the form of Dasara celebration. This aspect should have been impressed upon the UNESCO delegation. We have prepared a list of drawbacks and will make attempts to eliminate them. Then we will portray Dasara in its original form before the UNESCO,” said Ramakrishna and expressed confidence that it would be accepted.
Asked if preparations were on for it, Ramakrishna said that the matter had already been discussed with the DC. Though the Republic Day is celebrated on a large scale, it cannot be termed as traditional. It portrays the achievements of the Government and the Defence forces. But Mysore Dasara portrays the royal grandeur of the yore and historical significance.
“We have Police and other security personnel with modern equipment and modern uniform. But at the Palace, we will try to create the ambience of royalty, with security personnel and other staff clad in regalia, giving the Palace a heritage touch,” he said, adding that discussions were held with the Principal Secretary of the State government, who also is the Chairman of the Palace Board.
Regarding the conservation of heritage monuments in Mysore, Ramakrishna said that Mysore has been declared as a Heritage City, along with Srirangapatna, Kittur, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Bidar.
“A total of 269 monuments have been listed as heritage structures in Mysore. They will be conserved as new guide-lines. Some buildings owned by private persons that were erected close to the heritage monuments have been demolished,” he said and added that the Bidaram Krishnappa Rama Mandira on Narayana Shastri road will be conserved as a heritage monument.
source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / April 20th, 2012