Type : Cultural
Duration : September/October
Location : Mysore, Karnataka

One of the most colorful celebrations in India. A 10 day festival, of which nine days are spent in worship and the tenth day in celebration of the triumph of good over evil. Mysore witnesses a magnificent procession with caparisoned elephants and horses as the erstwhile Maharaja goes from his palace to the temple

Symbolizing the victory of good over evil, ‘Dusshera’, which is one of the most auspicious festivals in India, gets a special celebration in the state of Karnataka. Unlike the other places of India, where Dusshera is celebrated only for a day, the regal city of Mysore in Karnataka has its celebrations going for 10 days. Famous as Mysore Dasara, the festival is celebrated in a grand fashion.

In the 21st century, processions of the Dasara festival are carried on in a traditional way. Also known as ‘Jamboo Savari’, the processions involve parades of beautifully decorated elephants, one of which carries the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari. These elephants in company of dance groups, music bands, folklores, armed forces and royal identities, start their torch-light parade from the Mysore Palace and end it at Bannimantap. The torch-light parade is traditionallyknown as PanjinaKavayithu and it takes place on the last day of Mysore Dasara.

Other major highlight of the festival is the Dasara exhibition at the grounds, right opposite the Mysore Palace. The exhibition getsflooded by stallsselling clothes, cosmetics, eatables, handicrafts and plastic items. Outdoorgames and amusement rides also become the part of the exhibition.

This season is considered to be an auspicious one as it is generally associated with the sowing of seeds. People sowseeds on the first day, consecrate the planets, watch the sprouting and worship Goddess Durga during this festival. The last three days are especially considered most important. The nine-day is equallydivided in worshiping three goddesses. The first three days are dedicated to Goddess Durga. The next three days are spent in worshippinggoddess Lakshmi and the last three days are dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The day afterNavratri the festival of Dussehra is celebrated

How to get Mysore

Bengaluru is the nearest airport and reachable by road in two hours and 30 minutes