Banu Mushtaq inaugurates Mysuru Dusshera festival amid controversy
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Mysuru: Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq inaugurated the historic Mysuru Dusshera festivities on Monday by offering floral tributes to Goddess Chamundeshwari atop Chamundi Hill. She joined Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in prayers and traditional rituals.
The state government made special security arrangements after opposition from BJP leaders and Hindu activists to Mushtaq’s inauguration. Entry to the temple was restricted to pass-holders, with common devotees barred until 12 noon.
Banu Mushtaq performed the inauguration during the auspicious Vrushcika Lagna between 10:10 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. She was later felicitated by temple authorities, who garlanded her and presented a Mysuru peta (traditional headgear).
Earlier, she participated in special prayers at the temple, seeking blessings alongside Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, cabinet ministers, and other dignitaries. Emotionally during the rituals, she was seen wiping her tears towards the end.
She also took part in elaborate worship of Goddess Chamundeshwari, standing at the forefront before the sanctum sanctorum. During the ceremonies, she was garlanded and presented with a saree. Mushtaq joined Siddaramaiah, ministers, and dignitaries in receiving the ‘Mangalarati’ and folded her hands in devotion before the deity.
Meanwhile, Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadgi criticised the BJP, saying it had no substantive work and was attempting to create confusion in the state. He added that the Congress government had successfully implemented the five guarantees and that the BJP was deliberately dragging religious matters for political reasons.
The selection of Banu Mushtaq for the Dusshera inauguration faced legal challenges in the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court of India. The Karnataka High Court quashed three petitions filed by former BJP MP Pratap Simha and two others seeking a stay on the Congress-led government’s decision.
Pratap Simha had petitioned the High Court after the state government extended an invitation with honours to Mushtaq. He argued that during the Dusshera inauguration, floral tributes must be offered to Goddess Chamundeshwari along with Vedic recitals, mantra chanting, and religious rituals, and alleged that Mushtaq was anti-Hindu.
The Supreme Court last Friday dismissed a petition seeking a stay on the government’s decision. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta held that a non-Hindu cannot be barred from performing pujas, even when past remarks by the invitee allegedly hurt religious sentiments. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision.
With IANS inputs