Yuva Dasara, known since several years for attracting the youth with diverse foot-tapping entertainment, got off to a lackluster start here last evening.

Although the event was formally inaugurated, the preparations were in no way completed.

The customary arch to welcome the guests and spectators to the Open Air Theatre in Manasagangothri and the lighting of the venue were left incomplete. As no parking facility had been created, the vehicles of the spectators were haphazardly parked.

While the inauguration of the festival was delayed by one-and-half hours, only a handful of spectators were present to view the evening's proceedings. The gallery of the Open Air Theatre with a capacity to seat more than 3,000 spectators, usually filled with youth in gay mood, wore a deserted look.

Adding to all the deficiencies of the occasion, there was no one to welcome the guests.

Chief guest absent

District In-charge Minister S.A. Ramdas, who was to take part in the inaugural function as the chief guest and declare the festival open, was himself absent, causing embarrassment to the members of Yuva Dasara Sub-Committee. Forest Minister C.H. Vijayashankar, Leader of the Opposition Siddharamaiah and MLA H.S. Shankaralingegowda too were absent.

MLC Thontadarya inaugurated the event. Mayor Sandesh Swamy, Deputy Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath, Karnataka Housing Board Chairman G.T. Deve Gowda, Deputy Commissioner Harsha Gupta, Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal, Zilla Panchayat Vice-President Nandini Chandrashekhar, Karnataka Exhibition Authority Chairman B.P. Manjunath, Yuva Dasara Sub-Committee Chairman Satish, Vice-Chairmen Manjunath and Mahadevu, Working Chairman B. Ramu, Secretary Srihari and others were present.

Mayor's dismay

Mayor Sandesh Swamy openly expressed his dismay about the way it has been organised without proper preparations. He said he got the invitation to Yuva Dasara just half-an-hour before the start of the event.

The programmes that are part of the Dasara festival should begin at the scheduled time whether the guests come or not. However, Yuva Dasara got delayed by one-and-half hours and it was not proper, he said showing his ire on the organisers.

The programme started with a dance-feature by the students of All India Institute of Speech and Hearing. Later, the girls of Chaitra PU College presented folk, traditional and western style dances. Mangalore's SDM College students presented a dance, followed by Manipuri style 'Krishnamohana' dance and Tibetan dance by Teresian College students.

The young spectators, who normally display unbounded joy by loud clapping and deafening cheers could be seen in their seats observing the goings on in total silence.

Many among them could be seen cursing the organisers for putting up a poor show, before they left the venue.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore