Mysore is known as the city of the royal palace and is prominent for celebrating Dussehra or “Dasara”. They celebrate the Dussehra in a ravishing manner. It is the ten-day festival that ended on Vijayadashmi. It is one of the major festivals that are celebrated in the Karnataka State of South India region. To celebrate this festival, they decorate the entire city with the entire period. This festival is full of dance, cultural activities, music, and a torchlight parade.
Along with this, youth icons also organize special music concerts during the Dasara. People from the different nearer cities come to Mysore to become the part of Mysore Dasara festival.
When is Mysore Dasara?
This year, this festival will be from 03rd October to 12th October 2024 in Mysore.
History of Mysore Dasara:
Mysuru was named “Mahisur”. There is an interesting story associated with this name. It is believed that Goddess Chamundeshwari killed the Mahishasura here who was the wicked buffalo-headed demon. It is the victory of good over evil. Several Devis were worshipped on nine days which are known as Navratri and it is followed by Vijayadashami, the tenth day of victory.
The trend of festivities was initially commenced by the Wadiyar King in 1610. The Mysore Palace looks splendid because of 100,000 light bulbs on all 10 days. Along with it, the Wadiyar royal couple pays obeisance to the goddess Chamundeshwari by doing puja in Chamundi Temple. It states the beginning of celebrations. There is a royal assembly in Mysore Palace and royal family members including special guests attend it.
Mysore Dasara Procession:
The procession conducted on the tenth day of Dasara is an essential and popular aspect of the whole festival. Three parades were organized during Mysore Dasara. The first parade is on the ninth day of Dasara which is known as Mahanavami. The main purpose of this procession is to worship the royal sword. You will see a parade of Camels, Horses, Elephants, Dancers, and individuals dressed in unique dresses. Royal families also become part of this procession. The next two processions are organized on the tenth day which is called Vijayadashmi.
The first procession comes in the category of the traditional parade that is known as the “Jumbo Savari” which starts from Mysore Palace to the Bannimantap. This procession includes large bands, massive decorated floats, dance troupes that reveal numerous mythical events, and a gathering of armed forces.
The striking feature of the Parade is the “idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari”. This idol is kept on the top of the golden seat of an elephant. Royal families worship this idol before the parade and then this idol is displayed to all individuals. The final stop of this parade is the Bannimantap grounds. There is also a torchlight parade that you can see. This parade is known as Panjina Kavayitha.
Mysore Dasara Celebrations – Exhibition and Events:
There are various events conducted on all ten days. These events and exhibitions are the major attraction of this festival. The visitors will find the wind range unique. The activities include cycling, heritage tours, wrestling, yoga, pet shows, treasure hunts, sporting events, film festivals, and many more. Food lovers will also enjoy the Mysore Dasara festival as various food stalls show the delicacies to all the visitors.
On the other side, exhibitions are conducted during the festival till December. The exhibition has a huge range of clothing items, cosmetics, kitchenware, rides, and entertainment such as the Ferris Wheel. Many people enjoy this exhibition after witnessing the stunning Mysore Palace as it is illuminated with around 100,000 light bulbs.
Mysore Dasara Ticket:
To attend Mysore Dasara, there is no ticket for visitors. On the other side, if you want to attend “The Torchlight Parade”, you need to buy a ticket. One can also take a VIP Gold Card. By using this card, you can enjoy the special parade and also get separate seats. Not only this, but you will also get lucrative offers. The cost of a VIP gold card is near about INR 4000 per person.
Venue of Mysore Dasara Festival:
The procession commences at Mysore Palace and continues to Albert Road. From that location, it arrives at Sayyaji Rao Road, and then the parade crosses the Bamboo Bazaar including the highway circle. After that, it finally reaches the Bannimantap grounds. Along with it, there are various exhibitions held opposite Mysore Palace. You can go and enjoy the view and gain knowledge.
Traveling tips for the Mysore Dussehra Trip:
The Mysore Dussehra is also named Nada Habba which is celebrated with enthusiasm. The gathering at this festival is on a grand scale. If you visit the Mysore Dussehra, you will surely become a witness of royalty. You will find this alive during these ten days of celebrations.
Hence, you should never miss any opportunity to become a part of this huge festival. It is not celebrated like in North India where the effigies of Ravana, Meghdoot, and Kumbhkaran are burned. In Mysore, as mentioned earlier, the celebrations continue for ten days.
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How to Reach Mysore:
You can easily reach Mysore by train and air as it is well connected with important cities in India. If you do not get a direct flight, you can take a flight to Bengaluru and then hire a cab or bus to reach your destination. Mysore is at an approximate distance of 145 km from Bengaluru. It requires around 2.5 hours to complete this journey.
Best Time to Visit Mysore:
Before making the bookings, the best time to visit is the last four days before Dussehra. Additionally, book the rooms in hotels beforehand.
Besides this, you must be aware of a few words in the Kannada Language which make your trip easier. These words include:
- Namaskara
- Hello
- Beda
- No
- Estu?
- How much?
- Saku
- Enough
- Ellide?
- Where is?
So, these are the words that will make your trip joyful and great. Besides this, you can hire a tour guide too to make your trip easy.
Final Verdicts
With the help of the above-mentioned, you have a crystal clear idea about the Mysore Dasara festival. So, do not miss the opportunity to explore this festival and enjoy the uniqueness and royalty of this festival.
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