Mysuru: Food stall vendors have staged a protest against the lottery system introduced for allotting stalls at the Dasara Aahaara Mela, alleging that the process overlooks experienced vendors and lacks transparency.

The vendors staged a flash protest in front of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Office on September 24, objecting to the manner in which stalls were selected for this year’s food festival. The selection process, organised by the Dasara Aahaara Mela Sub-Committee at Jaganmohan Palace, involved drawing lots to allot the available stalls.

The protesting vendors claimed that several people who had been participating in the Aahaara Mela for years were denied an opportunity, while newcomers were selected through the lottery process.

Vendors question lottery-based selection

According to the protesters, more than 500 applications were received for food stalls this year. They questioned the decision to invite such a large number of applications when the number of stalls available was limited.

The vendors argued that past participation and experience should be considered while allocating stalls, particularly because many local traders depend on the annual Aahaara Mela for their livelihood.

“Every year we set up stalls and sustain our livelihood through this mela. This time, under the name of a lottery, our chance has been denied,” the vendors said, according to the report.

They also questioned the transparency of the lottery procedure and sought clarity on how the selection was conducted.

The protesters demanded that the lottery system be withdrawn and that the authorities establish clear eligibility and selection criteria for stall allotment.

Local and veteran vendors seek priority

The vendors’ association maintained that those who have participated in the food festival for several years should receive priority in the allotment process.

They said experienced vendors have already invested in equipment, staff and other arrangements to operate their stalls during Dasara. According to the protesters, replacing an experience-based system with a lottery could leave established local traders without an opportunity to participate.

The vendors also questioned whether inviting applications far in excess of the number of available stalls was appropriate if the final selection was to be based entirely on a lottery.

They urged the authorities to consider the interests of genuine local food vendors while finalising the stall allocation.

Memorandum submitted to MCC official

Following the protest, the vendors submitted a memorandum to MCC Additional Commissioner Veena, who is also the Deputy Special Officer of the Aahaara Mela Sub-Committee.

The protesters sought intervention in the stall allocation issue and urged the authorities to reconsider the selection process.

Veena reportedly assured the vendors that steps would be taken to provide opportunities to long-standing participants.

The protest was led by Dasara Aahaara Mela Vendors’ Association President S. Nagaraju, Vice-President Shanthamma and Treasurer Shivaswamy, along with other association members.

Concerns over transparency in stall allotment

The dispute comes at a time when preparations for Mysuru Dasara 2026 are gathering pace. The Aahaara Mela is one of the popular attractions associated with the annual festival, drawing visitors looking to sample different cuisines during the Dasara season.

The question of stall allocation has therefore become significant for both vendors and organisers. While the lottery was intended as a method of selecting stall beneficiaries from a large pool of applicants, vendors have argued that a purely random process does not adequately account for previous participation, experience and the livelihood concerns of local traders.

A separate development also saw Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar write to Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, urging that the Aahaara Mela stall allocation process be conducted in a fair, transparent and impartial manner.

The MP said his office had received complaints and petitions regarding stall distribution and called for clearly defined eligibility and selection rules. He also stressed the need to ensure equal opportunity for eligible and genuine food vendors.

Authorities face task of balancing demand and fairness

With more than 500 applications reportedly received for a limited number of stalls, the authorities face the challenge of balancing the demand from vendors with the available space at the Aahaara Mela.

The disagreement also highlights the importance of clearly communicating selection criteria before the process begins. For vendors, participation in the annual festival can provide an important seasonal business opportunity, while organisers have to manage a large number of applications within limited infrastructure.

A transparent system with clearly stated eligibility conditions could help address concerns raised by applicants and reduce disputes over stall allotment.

For now, the vendors have sought reconsideration of the lottery-based selection and greater priority for those who have participated in previous editions of the Aahaara Mela. The response from the MCC and Dasara Aahaara Mela Sub-Committee will determine how the issue is addressed ahead of the festival.