Mysuru Dasara inauguration speaker Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Swamiji called for tree planting, protection of rivers and conservation of soil and water, arguing that environmental responsibility must accompany the festival’s public celebrations.
Speaking after inaugurating the Mysuru Dasara festival, the seer described Mysuru as a city associated with culture, learning, cleanliness and discipline. He acknowledged the contribution of the many people whose work supports the festival and said Dasara had grown from a royal celebration into a public festival that draws global attention.
The speech placed environmental protection at the centre of the festival’s message. “Instead of lighting a lakh lamps, light tree lamps and worship God,” he said, urging people to treat the planting and protection of trees as a form of public devotion.
He also linked environmental protection to food security and the work of farmers. “Rice and sambar cannot be downloaded from Google. Food comes from the sweat of farmers and the soil. Should we not protect that soil then?” he asked.
The speaker said rivers, their sources, soil and water must be conserved. If rivers dry up, he said, water cannot simply be imported from elsewhere. He added that governments must protect the environment so that people do not feel that their right to live is being threatened.
The remarks connect a major public festival with the basic systems that support urban and rural life. Mysuru’s festival economy and civic activity depend on food, water, public spaces and the work of people who are not always visible during large celebrations. The speech did not announce a new government programme or specify an implementation plan, but it placed those resources within the public conversation around Dasara.
Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Swamiji also described Dasara as a meeting point of the past, present and future. Referring to Kannada literary and social traditions, he said people should respect human dignity and recognise the value of labour. He recalled the contribution of the Mysuru royal family and referred to the reported donation of jewellery by Rajamata Kempananjammani during the construction of the Kannambadi dam.
He said those in authority should not only govern people but also respond to their suffering. He further described the purpose of religion as making the earth resemble heaven, rather than focusing only on taking people to heaven after death.
The speech also addressed cultural continuity and the responsibilities of families and the wider Kannada community. Parents, he said, should introduce children to Kannada culture through vachanas and moral stories. Kannadigas living abroad should support the development of schools in their native places, he added.
He urged every person in Karnataka to make a small commitment towards the state’s development and said that children should be encouraged to achieve enough for their names to appear in books, rather than spending their time only on social media. The Dasara programme’s next activities will proceed as part of the festival announced in Mysuru.
