Madikeri:
Spectators to Madikeri Dasara fete in Kodagu was growing by the year, till it found a new competitor in Gonikoppal Dasara.

While Madikeri Dasara largely caters to people of north Kodagu, Gonikoppal Dasara enthralls the people down south with a variety of programmes. Adding to this, the government has sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for Gonikoppal Dasara this year, thanks to Virajpet MLA and Speaker K G Bopaiah.

As part of the celebrations, a state-level hockey tourney and a national-level dirt-bike racing competition will be held. The work is in full swing to set a huge podium (costing Rs 5 lakh), where various cultural programmes will be held after the procession of tableaux.

Dasara committee working president Girish Ganapathi said an idol of Chamundeswhari will be installed on Tuesday. Cultural programmes which will be held daily till October 24. Nine tableaux will be showcased in ‘Shobayathra’, a traditional event.

Kullachanda Bopanna, general secretary of the committee, said: “Off late, Gonikoppal Dasara is attracting more viewers form outside south Kodagu region.”

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore / by C. Rajendra, TNN / October 16th, 2012