Mysuru, 5 Oct

Attired in traditional dress, as many as 40 couples from across State took part in a heritage tonga ride organised by Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage as part of Dasara celebrations in Mysuru on Saturday. 

Braving drizzle, the couples of various ages took part in the ride in specially decorated tongas (horse-drawn carriages) from Rangacharlu Memorial Hall. Arriving from Shivamogga, Hassan, Mysuru, Bengaluru and elsewhere, couples wearing Mysore silk sarees, peta and Kodagu attire were the cynosure of the event. 

They were taken for a ride in about 25 tongas covering Silver Jubilee Clock Tower Circle, Chamaraja Wadiyar Circle, KR Circle, Jagmohan Palace, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Field Marshal KM Cariappa Circle, Railway Station Circle, Ayurveda Circle, Irwin Road and returning to Town Hall. Before the ride, the couples were gifted with traditional bagina containing Mysuru jasmine flowers, Mysore Pak and Mysore betel leaves and other city-based products.

After flagging off the rally, Commissioner of the department A Devaraju said the department has been initiating measures for protecting heritage monuments as well as sensitising the public about the conservation of the heritage structures for future generations. 

Resource people, retired professor of ancient history and archaeology Prof NS Rangaraju and historian LN Swamy highlighted the importance of heritage structures to the participant couples during the tonga ride. –Salar News