Mysuru:Energy and Tourism Minister K J George on Thursday lauded the CESC for setting a Guinness World Record with a drone show at the Mysuru Dussehra celebrations and praised the city’s spectacular electrical illumination during the 11-day-long festivities.

He said the Energy Department and Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) played a key role in showcasing the festival’s splendour to the world.

“The Energy Department and CESC have played a key role in showcasing the grandeur of Dussehra to the world in an even more impactful manner. This year, the creation of a spectacular peacock formation using 3,473 drones has earned a Guinness World Record, further enhancing the global visibility of the festival,” George said.

The electrical illuminations added a distinctive splendour to the celebrations, with colourful lighting installations spread across 146 km of roads, 123 circles and prominent locations, besides 80 illuminated artistic installations, he said, according to a release by CESC.

“The effective management of the city’s illuminations, coupled with an impressive technology-driven drone show, reflects the operational efficiency of the Energy Department and the technical capabilities of CESC,” he said.

Commending the four-day drone show held at the Torchlight Parade Grounds in Bannimantap, George said 12 visual formations created using different colours and designs mesmerised audiences, with the peacock formation emerging as the highlight.

He said managing the city’s electrical illuminations during the festival, which attracts lakhs of tourists and the public, required meticulous planning, technical preparedness and coordination.

“Given the scale of the festival, priority was accorded to the reliable management of the power infrastructure, technical preparedness and coordination at various levels. The initiatives undertaken by CESC under the Energy Department have played a significant role in enhancing the grandeur of the Dussehra festivities,” he said.

George also praised CESC for balancing its responsibility of ensuring uninterrupted power supply with the execution of the illuminations and the technology-driven drone spectacle.

“After creating a tiger formation using drones and setting a record last year, CESC has continued its remarkable journey by creating a peacock formation this year and setting a new record. The electrical illuminations and drone show have also significantly contributed to positioning Dussehra as a major global tourism attraction,” he said. Meanwhile, Archana, Managing Director of CESC said the Dussehra electrical illuminations would remain in place for 10 more days, until October 31, and urged tourists and the public to follow safety guidelines while enjoying the displays.

“Tourists and members of the public are encouraged to follow the necessary safety guidelines and enjoy the spectacular beauty of the illuminated city,” she added.