To inaugurate the world famous Mysore Dussehra-2025 ceremony, the Karnataka government invited the International Booker Award winner and Muslim writer Banu Mushtaq, which has created a ruckus. The BJP had asked whether Banu Mushtaq believes in Goddess Chamundeshwari. At the same time, the first reaction of the writer has come on this whole matter.
BJP state unit president B.K. Y. Several BJP leaders, including Vijayendra and Mesuru MP Yaduvir Krishnadatta Chamraj Wadiyar, had said on Monday (August 25, 2025) that Banu should clarify his reverence for Goddess Chamundeshwari before giving consent to inaugurate Dussehra.
The controversy stems from an old video, in which he allegedly objected to worshiping Kannada language as ‘Goddess Bhuvaneshwari’ and said that people like him (minorities) do not come under its purview.
Traditionally Chamundeshwari Devi is worshiped
The festival of Dussehra is traditionally inaugurated by worshiping the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari and showering flowers on it amidst the Vedic chanting in the Chamundeshwari temple complex located above the Chamundi hills in Masuru and the statue of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysore and her royal houses.
What did Banu say about the ceremony,
Banu said on Monday (August 25, 2025) after receiving Bagina (traditional gift) from Bangalore’s organization ‘Ammana Madilu’, “This (invitation to inaugurate Dussehra) is definitely a pleasure. We can see it in various ways. You can see Chamundeshwari Tai (Maa Chamundeshwari), I honor your feelings, I honor it. Habba (Rajya Utsav) says, I respect him too. “
He said, “To call Dussehra as Nada Habba or to call Goddess Chamundeshwari with great love and affection. All these are our culture and part of this kingdom. So I like this festival and I respect it and I respect it and I participate in it with affection.”
As a child, I went to see Jambbo ride- Banu
Banu said, “As a child, I went to see ‘Jumbo Rawa’ (about a dozen dressed elephants in the procession of Vijayadashami) in Dussehra with my parents. This time I got an invitation to inaugurate the inauguration of Dussehra and it is a matter of great pleasure for me.”
In fact, the state government announced last week that the International Booker Award winner Banu Mushtaq would inaugurate the ‘Mysuru Dussehra 2025’ function.
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