Mysore Dasara Festival - A Royal Event

Celebrating the victory of Truth over Evil, the Mysore Dasara festival is a famous event of the city. Legend says that the Goddess Durga or Chamundeeswari slew the devil Mahishasuran on Vijayadashami day. In the state, Dasara is considered as State festival-Nadahabba. The festival is conducted by the Royal Family of Mysore. The family performs special pooja on Dasara. The entire city is brightly decorated and lighted.

Time

Dasara is a ten day festival that culminates on Vijayadashami or tenth day. It usually falls in September-October. The day symbolises the successful cessation of the preceding nine days.

Significance

Vijayadashami is a day of victory of the King and his subjects. The preceding nine days of Navaratri enjoy celebrations initiating only after six days. The sixth day celebrates in honour of goddess Saraswathi. Eight day is devoted to Durga and Ninth day is for the goddess of wealth Lakshmi. On tenth day a majestic procession is organised that starts from Mysore Palace and concludes in Bannimantap.

Celebrations

Dressed in royal attire and traditional headpiece, His Highness Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, the successor of the royal family climbs the seven steps to the golden throne, accumulated according to the religious instructions. Court musicians play the signature tune, which is especially composed to commemorate the assumption of power by the Wodeyars.

Highlights

Cultural programmes by eminent artists are conducted in the Palace. These are followed by food festival, sports, film festival, wrestling and poet's meet, attended by thousands of people. Dasara palace ceremonies serve as a private affair of the royal family. However, the event is witnessed by a selected audience.

Witness the grandeur of Mysore Dasara Festival in royal style!