No illumination of Mysuru Palace this weekend

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Mysuru Palace Board authorities have decided not to illuminate Mysuru Palace this weekend -December 28 and 29- as a mark of respect to former PM Manmohan Singh who passed away on Thursday. The authorities have also cancelled the New Year firecracker display and the Mysuru police band performance. However, the flower show at Mysuru Palace will continue till December 31, It will remain open from 10 am till 9 pm.

In a press release, deputy director of the Mysore Palace Board T S Subramanya stated that this decision was take in view of the seven-day state mourning declared following the death of the former PM. The Karnataka and English band's rendition from 11 pm to midnight and the bursting of green crackers planned on December 31, have also been cancelled. From December 21, Mysuru Palace board has organized a flower show as part of the winter festival it has been holding for several years.

The last seven days of the festival elicited an overwhelming response from tourists due to the long weekend and holidays for schools and educational institutions due to Christmas. As many as 10,500 rooms available at more than 425 hotels in Mysuru have been booked till January 31, including the luxury rooms of Jungle Lodges, several homestays, service apartments and hotels in the outer ring road area.