BENGALURU: Having cleared the legal hurdles especially over her “faith” (Muslim) coming in the way of the opening Mysore Dasara festivities, International Booker Prize-2025 winner Banu Musthaq on Monday opened Mysore Dasara festivities, on invitation from the State Government, atop Chamundi Hills in Mysuru and she termed “The festivities has become an integral part of Urdu speakers (of Mysuru region).”In 2017, noted Kannada poet Nisar Ahmed, a Muslim, inaugurated the Dasara festivities. It may be recalled here, BJP leader and former Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha went in an appeal to the High Court against invitation to Banu Mushtaq to open Dasara festivities which was dismissed. Later, a resident of Bengaluru, Gaurav, knocked at the doors of the Supreme Court against Banu Mushtaq opening Dasara which was also dismissed. Dasara is not only festivities to celebrate but festivities which bind people and bring all cultures together. Banu Musthaq said “A lot can be achieved through words than with weapons."