Supreme Court Backs Banu Mushtaq’s Role in Mysuru Dasara Inauguration
Rejects plea against Banu Mushtaq's Mysuru Dasara role.
Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the Karnataka government's invitation to International Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the iconic Mysuru Dasara festival. The decision, delivered by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, upholds the state’s choice, affirming that the event's ceremonial aspects do not bar participation by non-Hindus, sparking debates on religious practices and cultural evolution in India's diverse society.
The plea, filed by H S Gaurav against a September 15 Karnataka High Court order, argued that the inauguration rituals at the Chamundeshwari Temple—such as lighting the ceremonial lamp, offering kumkum, turmeric, fruits, and flowers before the Goddess Chamundeshwari's sanctum—constitute essential Hindu worship under Agamic traditions, protected by Article 25 of the Constitution. Petitioners contended these acts are exclusively for Hindus, rendering Mushtaq's involvement sacrilegious. However, the apex court rejected these claims, prioritizing the state's discretion in organizing a public cultural festival that blends devotion with statewide celebrations.
Banu Mushtaq, a 77-year-old Kannada writer, lawyer, and women's rights activist from Hassan, Karnataka, rose to global acclaim in May 2025 when her short story collection Heart Lamp—translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi—clinched the prestigious International Booker Prize, the first win for a Kannada work and the first for a short story collection in the prize's history. The 12 poignant tales, drawn from her writings between 1990 and 2023, delve into the everyday struggles, joys, and resilience of Muslim women in southern India, earning praise for their feminist depth and quiet power. "In a literary culture that rewards spectacle, Heart Lamp insists on the value of attention—to lives lived at the edges," noted a review in The Indian Express. Mushtaq's selection for Dasara honors her literary contributions and promotes Karnataka's cultural pluralism.
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Mysuru Dasara, or Nada Habba, one of India's grandest festivals, kicks off on September 22 and runs until October 2, drawing millions with its royal processions, classical performances, and the famed Jamboo Savari elephant parade. Rooted in the 17th century under the Wodeyar dynasty, it venerates Goddess Chamundeshwari while showcasing Mysuru's silk, sandalwood, and music heritage. The government's invite to Mushtaq, a local icon, aims to highlight progressive values amid the 10-day extravaganza.
The verdict has drawn mixed reactions: supporters hail it as a win for secularism, while critics decry it as diluting sacred rites. As preparations ramp up in Mysuru— with floral decorations, light illuminations, and cultural troupes gearing up—the ruling reinforces the festival's role as a unifying spectacle, transcending religious boundaries to celebrate Karnataka's shared heritage.
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