A file photo of Sri Abhinava Gavishiddheshwar Mahaswami of Gavi Mutt, Koppal
When Siddaramaiah became chief minister for the first time in 2013, the Congress govt returned to selecting personalities from the fields of literature, culture and social life. In 2018, during the JD(S)-Congress coalition govt led by HD Kumaraswamy, Sudha Murty of Infosys Foundation inaugurated Dasara. Between 2023 and 2025, Hamsalekha, Hampa Nagarajaiah and Banu Mushtaq inaugurated Dasara.
Backward Classes Awareness Forum convener KS Shivaramu said the Gavi Mutt and its seer are highly revered and their contribution to society is invaluable. “However, Dasara is a cultural festival and the govt should not have invited a seer to inaugurate it,” he said. Mysuru: Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Swami, pontiff of the Gavisiddheshwara Mutt (Gavi Mutt), Koppal, will be the seventh seer to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara in the last three-and-a-half decades, and the first pontiff to receive the honour under a Congress govt. Writers Chandrashekhara Kambar, Girish Karnad, progressive farmer Puttaiah, poets laureate Chennaveera Kanavi and KS Nissar Ahmed were among those chosen. After the BJP returned to power, SL Bhyrappa, CN Manjunath, SM Krishna and President Droupadi Murmu were chosen. However, some progressive leaders have opposed the move, citing that it may dilute the very purpose of celebrating Dasara. He also expressed concern that the decision could set a precedent for different caste groups to demand the honour for their seers, potentially leading to caste-based divisions in Dasara celebrations.