Banu Mushtaq inaugurates Mysuru Dasara, calls Chamundeshwari a symbol of women’s powerInternational Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq inaugurated the Mysuru Dasara, describing it as a symbol of Karnataka’s collective culture. The famous 11-day Dasara celebrations commenced in this city of palaces on Monday amid religious and traditional fervour, with Banu Mushtaq inaugurating the festivities. The inauguration took place amid controversy, with objections from some sections against the government’s decision to invite Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the festival. She inaugurated the festivities during the auspicious “Vrushchika Lagna” by showering flowers on the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari amid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests, at Chamundeshwari temple. Stating that the grand Dasara festival is being inaugurated with the grace of goddess Chamundeshwari, Mushtaq said her visit to Chamundeshwari Devi temple was pending, and the opportunity to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara helped her fulfil a vow.