MYSURU: The Dasara Flower Show at Kuppanna Park attracted 3.12 lakh visitors over 12 days, concluding on October 22 after drawing crowds with its floral displays and creative installations. The event, organised as part of the 2026 Mysuru Dasara celebrations, recorded a decline of 1.23 lakh visitors compared with the previous year.

The flower show began on October 11 and was originally scheduled to conclude on October 21. However, the contractor obtained permission from the Horticulture Department to extend the event by one additional day, allowing visitors more time to see the displays.

This year’s theme was ‘Festival of Democracy’, with floral installations celebrating Karnataka’s legislative heritage and India’s Constitution.

Vidhana Soudha replica becomes a major attraction

One of the key attractions was a floral replica of Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha, created inside the Glass House at Kuppanna Park. The installation was made using approximately two lakh red roses, 4,000 chrysanthemums and 25,000 green foliage elements.

The detailed floral structure drew visitors interested in the craftsmanship and scale of the display. The Vidhana Soudha replica was designed to reflect the democratic institutions of Karnataka and complement the year’s theme.

A floral replica of the Constitution of India also received appreciation from the public. The installation offered visitors a visual representation of the country’s constitutional heritage and added an educational dimension to the exhibition.

The flower show has traditionally been among the attractions organised alongside Mysuru Dasara, bringing together horticulture, floral artistry and public entertainment.

Visitor numbers decline from last year

According to C. Naveen, Senior Assistant Director in the Department of Horticulture, the flower show attracted 3.12 lakh visitors this year, compared with 4.35 lakh visitors in the previous year.

The difference amounts to a decline of 1.23 lakh visitors. Despite the reduction, the event continued to draw families, tourists and residents during the Dasara period.

The department’s figures provide an indication of visitor turnout at one of the city’s popular seasonal attractions. However, the reported numbers alone do not establish the reasons behind the decline.

Factors such as the timing of the event, competing Dasara attractions and visitors’ schedules may influence attendance, although no specific explanation for the lower footfall was provided in the report.

Kuppanna Park remains a Dasara attraction

Kuppanna Park, which hosts the annual flower show, is an important venue for horticultural exhibitions during the Dasara season. The event typically features elaborate floral arrangements, themed installations and displays designed to appeal to visitors of different age groups.

The exhibition gives horticulture officials and participating teams an opportunity to showcase floral design and the creative use of plants and flowers. Its location in central Mysuru also makes it accessible to residents and tourists visiting the city during the festival.

The extension of this year’s show by one day provided an additional opportunity for people to visit the displays before the exhibition closed.

Dasara celebrations continue to draw visitors

The flower show was one of several attractions organised during Mysuru Dasara, which includes the Jumboo Savari procession, palace illumination, cultural programmes and exhibitions.

The 2026 edition’s ‘Festival of Democracy’ theme connected the floral displays with Karnataka’s legislative institutions and India’s constitutional framework. The Vidhana Soudha replica and Constitution installation were among the prominent elements of the exhibition.

With the show now concluded, the final attendance figure stands at 3.12 lakh visitors over 12 days. While the turnout was lower than in 2025, the event remained part of Mysuru’s wider Dasara programme, combining horticultural displays with cultural and educational themes.