Mysore Dasara is one of the most celebrated and pompous festivals in India. The city of Mysore or Mysuru has a long tradition of celebrating the Dasara festival. Dasara (Dussehra) can be described as 10-day festival in South India, culminating on Vijayadashami or tenth day.
The Mysore Dasara is celebrated elaborately with great enthusiasm. During this period, the whole of Mysore undergoes serious changes and it is decorated beautifully with the streets lighted and the trees decorated. It attracts a huge audience both from all over India and all over the world.
Mysore Dasara is the “Nadahabba” or the State-Festival of the State of Karnataka, called as “Navaratri” meaning Nine-Nights, a 10-day festival, celebrated with utmost spectacle and joy in the city of Mysore.
According to historians, the Dasara festivities began with the Vijayanagar kings in the 15th century. It is a Royal Festival Celebrating victory of Truth over Evil. Legend has it that the Goddess Chamundeshwari or Durga slew the demon Mahishasura on Vijayadasami day. The 10th day marks the successful conclusion of the preceding nine days. Vijayadashami is also a day of victory of the King and his subjects, be it in a battle or day-to-day governance.
The preceding nine days of Navarathri have celebrations starting only after six days. The sixth day is in honour of goddess Saraswathi. Eighth day is dedicated to Durga and Ninth day is for Lakshmi, goddess of wealth. On tenth day a grand spectacular Procession is held which starts from Mysore Palace and ends in Bannimantap.
There are reports of observance of Dasara (called Mahanavami before) during the Vijayanagar reign. After the fall of the Vijayanagar kingdom, the Wodeyars of Mysore continued the Dasara Festival, The festivities began with the royal couple performing a special puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari in the temple located on top of the Chamundi Hill at Mysore.
It was during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, in 1805, when the tradition of having a special durbar (royal assembly) in the Mysore Palace during Dasara was started. It was only attended by members of the royal family, important guests, officials and the masses. This is being continued even to this day with current heir of the Wodeyar family holding a private durbar during Dasara.
The famous Mysore exhibition held during the Dasara was started by the Maharaja of Mysore, Chamaraja Wodeyar X(ten), in 1880, with the intention of introducing up-to-date innovations and developments to the people of Mysore.
The task of holding the exhibition is now entrusted to the Karnataka Exhibition Authority, which was constituted in 1981.
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