Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Saturday that this year’s Dasara festivities will run for 11 days, from September 22 to October 2, and are expected to draw around 10 lakh participants. Chairing a high-level meeting in Mysuru, he shared that the government had received suggestions to invite a woman dignitary to inaugurate the celebrations. “I’ll take a decision in a week or two,” he added.
“This time Dasara has come early. Navaratri will be observed for 11 days due to two days of Panchami,” Siddaramaiah explained, noting that such an extended festival has occurred eight times before.
Highlighting good rainfall and full reservoirs, the Chief Minister said farmers were content, and the government plans to celebrate Dasara on a grand scale. Last year, ₹40 crore was spent on the festivities.
He directed police to ensure effective crowd management and maintain a people-friendly approach. Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa raised concerns that increasing seating outside the Mysuru Palace to 54,000 had caused congestion. Former minister Tanveer Sait proposed creating a Mysuru Dasara Authority to coordinate arrangements more systematically.
Siddaramaiah also clarified that Dasara celebrations would not be extended to Chamarajanagar district. “It’s not appropriate. Did the royal family ever live there? People of Chamarajanagar can come to Mysuru,” he asserted, adding that approving similar demands could lead other regions like Kodagu and Mangaluru to seek their own festivals.