<span style="color: #222222;">President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a ten-day Mysuru Dasara festival by offering prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari atop Chamundi hills today. Starting her speech in Kannada, the President extended her greetings to the people on the festive occasion. She sought the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari for the well-being of the country and her people.<br />''<br />''Later, speaking in Hindi, the President said that Vijayadashmi is the celebration of victory of Goddess Chamundeshwari over demon Mahishasura. The President noted that the festival also celebrates women power. She recalled the role played by Rani Abbakka Devi and Rani Chennamma in fighting foreign colonial powers, and Onake Obavva of Chitradurga who countered the soldiers of Hyder Ali.<br />''<br />''The President said that since time immemorial, saints have united the society through festivals, and classics like Ramayana and Mahabharatha have guided people on to the forthright path.<br />''<br />''In his address on the occasion, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai said that after a gap of two years, the Dasara festival is celebrated at a grand scale this year, post the pandemic. He thanked the President for accepting his invitation to inaugurate the Dasara festival, the first President to do the honours ever.<br />''<br />''Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, Union Ministers Prahlad Joshi and Shobha Karandlaje were among those present on the occasion. After inauguration of the festival, the President left for Hubballi where she will receive a civic honour by Hubballi and Dharwad Municipal Corporation.<br />''<br />''President Droupadi Murmu was felicitated by Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation in Hubballi today in north Karnataka. On receiving the honour, the President termed it as an honour to all the countrymen. She added that Hubballi Dharwad people have today felicitated a woman coming from an ordinary Odiya family and said that it is an honour to all the women in the country. On this auspicious occasion of Azadi Ka Amrith Mahotsav, She called upon citizens to work for Atma Nirbhar Bharat.  <br />''<br />''Speaking about educational, cultural, historical, spiritual and religious significance of Hubballi and Dharwad cities in North Karnataka, the President noted that these twin cities stand for linguistic harmony between Kannada and Marathi. It is a merging point of modern with the ancient. The Kannada poets and writers like Da.Ra.Bendre and V. Kru. Gokak, classical singers like Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru originate from here. Religious leaders like Basaveshwara, Siddaruda Maharaj had their spiritual journey from here. Rani Chennamma, freedom fighter Naragunda Babasahed laid down their life for the motherland.<br />''<br />''Today Hubballi and Dharwad are important centres of learning. The President called upon people from this region to make efforts to work for the greater good of the country. Union Minister for Coal and Mines Prahlad Joshi expressed happiness that the President could visit Dharwad. He said the President has a humble beginning, who started her public life from being a member of Gram Panchayat and later rising to be a member of legislative Assembly and a minister and Governor before becoming the President. He pointed at the President for her simplicity and good nature.  <br />''Later, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the new campus of  Indian Institute of Information Technology in Dharwad today in Karnataka. Speaking on the occasion, the President laid emphasis on the role knowledge society can play in making India a vishwa guru when the new India will emerge. She said institutions like Triple IT can mold youngsters to be leaders who can drive research and innovation in the areas of computer science, data analytics, Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, data science, digitalisation, nano technology and biotechnology.<br />''<br />''She pointed out that the New National Education Policy introduced by the Central Government prepares the institutions of higher learning to adopt best means to educate youngsters in the areas of research and innovation.  She lay emphasis on the need for India to play an important role in the fourth Industrial revolution waiting to happen.<br />''<br />''During the inauguration, the Governor of Karnataka Thawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Coal and Mines minister Prahlad Joshi and the Chairman of Triple IT Sudha Murthy spoke on the significance of President Droupadi Murmu inaugurating Triple IT in Dharwad in North Karnataka. Triple IT, Dharwad will offer B.Tech now in the IT sector and will introduce M.Tech in the days to come.<br />''<br />''Tomorrow, the President will inaugurate the Integrated Cryogenic Engines Manufacturing Facility of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, HAL, in Bengaluru. Cryogenic engines are used by the ISRO in its satellite launch operations. At the HAL, the President will also lay the foundation stone of the South Zonal Institute of Virology virtually. The President will also inaugurate St. Joseph University and in the evening, attend a civic reception hosted by the State Government in her honour. On Wednesday, the President will return to Delhi.</span>