Mysuru: Mandya-based Legislative Council member Dinesh Gooligowda has urged the Karnataka government to consider inviting Supreme Court Justice B V Nagarathna to inaugurate the 2026 Mysuru Dasara festival.
Gooligowda has submitted a representation to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, proposing Justice Nagarathna as the inaugural guest for this year’s Dasara. The appeal comes ahead of the 10-day festival, which is scheduled to be held in Mysuru from October 11 to 21.
Gooligowda submits representation to CM
According to reports, Gooligowda submitted his representation to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, requesting the government to consider Justice Nagarathna for the ceremonial inauguration.
The MLC said selecting Justice Nagarathna would carry significance for both Karnataka and the Mysuru Dasara celebrations. His proposal is a request to the government, and no decision on the suggestion has been reported so far.
The proposal comes as preparations for Mysuru Dasara 2026 are progressing, with the district administration working on arrangements for cultural programmes, the Jumboo Savari, Yuva Dasara, food mela and other events.
Justice Nagarathna set to make judicial history
Gooligowda highlighted Justice Nagarathna’s expected appointment as the first woman Chief Justice of India as one of the reasons for his proposal.
Justice Nagarathna is scheduled to become Chief Justice of India in September 2027, according to the reports. If the succession schedule remains unchanged, she would become the first woman to hold the country’s highest judicial office.
The MLC said that honouring her through the inauguration of Mysuru Dasara would be meaningful in view of the milestone.
The proposal is therefore linked to both the cultural significance of Dasara and the judicial milestone expected in 2027.
Justice Nagarathna’s Karnataka connection cited
Gooligowda also referred to Justice Nagarathna’s connection with the neighbouring Mandya district.
She hails from Engalaguppe in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district, according to the reports. Her connection to the region was cited by the MLC while making his request to the Chief Minister.
Justice Nagarathna is the daughter of former Chief Justice of India E S Venkataramiah. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2021 after serving as a judge of the Karnataka High Court.
Her Karnataka roots and her expected elevation to the country’s top judicial position were among the factors highlighted in the representation.
Mysuru Dasara preparations underway
The proposal comes at a time when preparations for Mysuru Dasara 2026 are gathering pace.
The festival is scheduled to begin with the traditional Dasara inauguration on October 11, followed by a series of cultural, religious, sporting and entertainment programmes across Mysuru.
The Jumboo Savari will remain the central attraction of the celebrations, while events such as Yuva Dasara, Dasara Food Mela, Flower Show and other programmes are expected to draw visitors to the city.
The district administration has also launched the official Mysuru Dasara website to provide information about event schedules, venues, ticketing, traffic arrangements and other visitor facilities.
Inaugural guest decision remains with government
Gooligowda’s proposal is a request to the state government and does not represent a confirmed decision regarding the Dasara inauguration.
The Karnataka government will take the final decision on the person who will inaugurate the festival.
The choice of the inaugural guest has traditionally attracted considerable public interest because the Dasara inauguration is one of the key ceremonial events in Mysuru’s annual festival calendar.
The 2026 celebrations are also taking place amid preparations for several new attractions, including a Dasara Kambala event and a theme-based drone show.
Proposal highlights regional and national significance
By suggesting Justice Nagarathna’s name, Gooligowda has highlighted both her connection to the region and her expected future role as Chief Justice of India.
If the government accepts the proposal, her participation would connect the Mysuru Dasara celebrations with a significant milestone in India’s judicial history.
For now, however, the proposal remains under consideration, and an official announcement regarding the inaugural guest is awaited.
With the festival scheduled to begin in October, the government and district administration are continuing preparations for the various events and arrangements that will accompany Mysuru Dasara 2026.