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The state government has issued a much-awaited notification exempting tourist vehicles from other states coming to Mysuru from paying road taxes. The nine-day Dasara celebrations opened in Mysuru on October 15.
The exemption will be applicable from October 16 till Dasara on October 24, and limited to only Mysuru and Srirangapattana taluk, according to the notification. Srirangapattana is a historic place, and was the kingdom of Tipu Sultan. The taluk is also home to Bridavan Gardens and KRS reservoir.
Mysuru, also well-known as the Ashtanga Yoga capital of the world, draws tourists from all over the world during the Navarathri, and exemption in tax will make travel less costly.
The International Kullu Dussehra Festival, with its roots dating back to the 17th century, is scheduled from October 24 to 30 this year. The festivities will commence with Lord Raghunath Rath Yatra and involve the participation of over 300 local deities, besides a cultural festival. The state govt official said that the flights from Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Delhi to Kullu are also operational to facilitate tourists.
Successive governments have been giving this exemption for 15 days every year, but the Congress regime’s delay has drawn flak from private transport operators, who called the government “anti-small business.” Federation of private transport association president S Natraj Sharma blamed the delay on the government’s Shakti scheme, under which women can avail free rides in government buses across the state. The scheme, which was one of the Congress regime’s tall pre-poll guarantees, is costing the state INR 2,800 crore till March 2024. “The government is scrimping, making tourists pay taxes when they normally wouldn’t have just to make up for the revenue lost in the Shakti scheme,” he told ET.
The exemption, he added, did not just benefit transport companies, but also allied businesses like hotels and restaurants. “This is one of the most popular festivals of south India. People come from all over the country. If it is too expensive for them to travel here, all tourism-related businesses take a hit,” he said.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah performed a pooja to mark the start of the Dasara celebrations in Chamundi temple in Mysuru on Sunday. The Dasara celebrations have been a tradition of the state ever since the Vijayanagara Empire began the custom in the 15th century.
The ten-day celebration sees the famous Mysore Palace decked in nearly 100,000 lights from 7 pm to 10 pm on all days of the festival. On the last day, the Jumboo Savari (elephant procession) carries the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari on a gold mantapa from the palace to a place called Bannimantap where the banni tree is worshipped.
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