National
Mysuru decks up to host Dasara festival
Mysuru (Karnataka), Sep 20 (IANS) The City of Palaces has been decked up to host its world famous 10-day ‘Mysuru Dasara’ fest starting Thursday with pomp and pageantry and an increase in the number of tourists is expected this year, officials said.
“This year’s festival is expecting at least 30 per cent increase in the footfall. We are making all the necessary arrangements to make this year’s fest much bigger than the last year,” Additional Deputy Commissioner T. Yogesh told IANS.
Mysuru, located about 150km from Karnataka capital Bengaluru, attracts visitors from across the world during Dasara, which has been celebrated over centuries to mark the triumph of good over evil.
The fest includes a multitude of cultural celebrations and the iconic Mysuru Palace built in 1912 is lit up with thousands of light bulbs during the evening. This spectacle draws at least 10 lakh visitors from the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra among others.
According to officials, at least 10,000 tourists from across the world also gather in the city to witness the festival celebrations.
Security in the city has been beefed up with the inflow of lakhs of visitors.
“At least 5,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city for the coming 10 days,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) N. Vishnuvardhan told IANS.
The celebrations will be flagged off by renowned poet K.S. Nissar Ahmed along with other state officials on Thursday atop Chamundi Hills, located 13 km from Mysuru.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the Dasara flower show, one of the main attractions of the fest. The flower show is expected to have over 3.5 lakh visitors, according to officials.
Cultural events, also to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister in the evening, will include several dance performances by the likes of Padma Shri Shobana, folk performances, Hindustani and Carnatic music concerts, farmer Dasara exhibition, food melas, film festival etc., that would be held across various venues in the city.
Visitors can also take a helicopter ride for a panoramic view of the illuminated city.
A procession by caparisoned elephants around the lanes of the royal palace is also one of the much-awaited sights during the fest each year.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.