Gavimutt seer to inaugurate Dasara this year
Mangalore Today News Network
Mysusu, Sep 25, 2026: The ensuing Mysore Dasara festivities will be inaugurated by Gavimutt pontiff Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji of Koppal, announced Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on the floor of the Assembly in Bengaluru on Thursday. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar ruled out a low-key Dasara festivities, celebrated as State fest, this year owing to prevailing drought in Karnataka.
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar had a telephonic conversation with the pontiff requesting him to inaugurate the Mysore Dasara festivities atop Chamundi Hill in Mysuru on October 11. “Pontiff agreed to inaugurate the Dasara festivities,” stated the Chief Minister while extending an invitation to MLAs to take part in the festivities.
A high-level committee on Mysore Dasara had earlier authorised Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar chose a personality/dignitary to inaugurate the Dasara festivities. Shivakumar said he had written a letter to the pontiff asking him to inaugurate the festivities.
Meanwhile, Mysore city is gearing up for the Dasara festivities. Illumination of roads, buildings and jumbo savari, the finale of Dasara festivities where a designated tamed elephant carries 750-kg golden howdah in a procession from Mysore Palace premises to Bannimantapa covering a distance of about 4.5 kms, are the major crow pullers. In 2025, an estimated 120 km of Mysuru city roads and circles were under illumination. This year jumbo svari falls on October 21.
As many as 14 tamed elephants from various elephant camps have arrived in Mysuru city and are currently undergoing rehearsal of the jumbo savari in two sessions-one in the morning hours and under lights in the evening.
A major attraction this year will be Kambala, traditional buffalo race native to Mangaluru, and arrangements have been made to host the buffalo race in Sathagalli of Mysuru city on about 17 acres. The other attractions during the Dasara festivities include Food Mela, Yuva Dasara among others.