The world-famous Mysuru Dasara Mahotsava 2026 will start with traditional religious ceremonies at Chamundi Hills on Sunday, October 11. The festival will be inaugurated by Siddheshwara Shri of Gavimath on the auspicious Dhanu Lagna from 11:50 am to 12:13 pm.
The grand ceremony will be attended by Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLA G.T. Devegowda, hundreds of seers, religious leaders and other dignitaries. With Mysuru preparing for one of Karnataka’s most celebrated cultural and religious festivals, elaborate security arrangements have been made at Chamundi Hills to ensure the smooth conduct of the inauguration ceremony.
The inauguration will be carried out according to the traditional worship of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru, who is the centre of the city's Dasara calendar. The district government and temple authorities have been prepared for the religious ceremony, and special prayers have been organised under the leadership of Chief Priest Dr Shashishekar Dixit.
Goddess Chamundeshwari's idol in her Mahishasura Mardini form is going to be worshipped in a silver palanquin. Dignitaries will give flowers to the deity and begin the Dasara celebrations in 2026. The ceremony is a manifestation of the deep spiritual significance of the festival - the victory of good over evil and the manifestation of the divine power of Goddess Chamundeshwari.
Security has been raised for Chamundi Hills ahead of events to be held and to meet with political leaders, religious heads and other guests. Police personnel are on hand to help control crowds, move traffic and keep order in the city as well as ensure safety. Public darshan at Chamundeshwari Temple will be suspended from 9 am to 2 pm on Sunday.
Devotees will be allowed to resume darshan after the temporary restriction is lifted in the afternoon. Those who intend to worship at the temple will take note of the time and plan their visit to avoid inconvenience. The restrictions are to facilitate the smooth completion of the high-profile inauguration and associated religious ceremonies.
The Mysuru royal palace is preparing its own Dasara rituals as well, reinforcing the royal heritage, which is still very much a part of the festival. The palace ceremonies start early in the morning with attaching the lion face to the jewel-studded royal throne between 6 am and 7:12 am.
This is the preparatory step before the throne is officially installed. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar will also undergo the traditional Kankana Dharane ceremony between 8 am and 9 am, in which a sacred thread is tied as part of the religious rituals. These rituals preserve the traditions of the ancient Mysuru royal family, and in a way, they are very much the historical aspect of the Dasara festival.
The much-anticipated Simhasana Arohana, or royal throne ascent, will take place between 11:45 am and 12:05 pm during the auspicious period. Yaduveer Wadiyar will receive the holy water and prasada from some of the most famous temples after the royal ceremony. The palace will conduct Navaratri puja and the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari will be carried from the Chamundeshwari Thotti to Kanaka Thotti between 1:40 pm and 2:05 pm. It is a mixture of royal tradition, religious devotion and rituals passed down from generation to generation.
Mysuru Dasara is one of the most celebrated cultural events in Karnataka and attracts devotees, tourists, artists and visitors from all over India and beyond. The festival features religious ceremonies, cultural activities, palace rituals and public events that are built on the heritage of the historic city.
The inauguration at Chamundi Hills marks the spiritual start of the celebrations, while the Mysuru Palace holds royal rituals and royal traditions. Final preparations are in place at both venues, and Mysuru is ready to welcome the festival season with dedication, grandeur and cultural pride. Residents and visitors can expect a whole lot of worship, heritage and celebration in the coming days that are going to take place to celebrate Dasara 2026 in the city.
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