Mysuru: Amid tight police security, dressed up in a yellow colour Mysore silk saree with a green border and adorning her hair with Mysuru jasmine, International Booker prize award winner Banu Mushtaq Monday launched the 11-day Mysuru Dasara festivities atop Chamundi Hill.

At 10.17 am at the auspicious 'Vrishchika lagna', the eminent writer inaugurated the festivities with the traditional lighting of earthen lamp before the idol of Goddess Sri Chamundeshwari Devi, housed in a silver mantapa, on a stage next to Sri Chamundeshwari Devi temple. She also offered floral obeisance to Goddess. It is the same idol which will be housed in the golden howdah, carried by Dasara elephant 'Abhimanyu' during the grand Dasara Jamboo Savari procession on October 2.

Before inauguration, she visited Goddess

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