Mahisha Mandalotsava to be held on October 10

The Mahisha Mandalotsava, an event organised to honour Mahishasura as a “benevolent ruler”, will be held in Mysuru on October 10.

Disclosing this to reporters in Mysuru on Thursday, former Mayor Purushotham, who heads the Mahisha Mandalotsava Organising Committee, said a public function would be held at Town Hall at 11 a.m., following the offering of floral tributes to the statue of Mahishasura atop Chamundi Hill.

While Mahisha Mandalotsava is opposed by a section of people, the organising committee maintains that Mahishasura was a “benevolent and humanitarian Buddhist ruler” whose identity had been distorted by vested interests.

Mr. Purushotham said the Mahisha Mandalotsava had been celebrated for the past 16 years and that floral tributes were offered to the Mahisha statue every month.

Referring to the restrictions imposed by the police and the district administration whenever they sought to offer floral tributes to the statue atop Chamundi Hill during Mahisha Mandalotsava, Mr. Purushotham said Mahisha Mandalotsava was not being organised as an alternative to Dasara.

“We have never opposed anyone else’s religious or cultural observances. We will not cause inconvenience to anyone. We will only offer floral tributes to Mahisha, and that is all,” he said.

The organising committee said it would not seek the cooperation of the police or the district administration while offering floral tributes this year, as prohibitory orders had been imposed atop Chamundi Hill during the event in the past.

Mr. Purushotham said the imposition of prohibitory orders caused inconvenience to devotees and others visiting Chamundi Hill. “Offering floral tributes is our right. No one can prevent us,” he said, cautioning that the committee would take legal recourse if anyone attempted to prevent them from observing their tradition.

However, he said permission had been sought from the authorities to hold the public function at Town Hall.

Mr. Purushotham said the organisers would prefer not to react to criticism of the Mahisha Mandalotsava. However, he said, an appropriate response would be given from the stage during the public function at Town Hall.

Bodhiratna Bantheji, Jnanaprakash Swami, writer K.S. Bhagwan and Nanjaraj Urs, among others, will participate in the programme, he said.