Mysuru: The Mysuru District Administration hosted a special breakfast for the mahouts, kavadis and their families associated with the Dasara elephants at the Mysore Palace premises on September 28. More than 150 members attended the programme organised ahead of the Mysuru Dasara 2026 celebrations.
The programme brought together the families of the forest camp workers who play an important role in preparing and caring for the elephants that participate in the annual Dasara festivities.
Mysuru District Minister Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah personally served breakfast to the families before joining them for the meal along with other dignitaries.
Traditional breakfast served at Palace
The breakfast menu featured a range of traditional and popular Karnataka dishes. The spread included obbattu or holige, dosas, idlis, vadas, uppittu, sagu, pongal, puliyogare and jalebi, along with tea and coffee.
The event was organised as a gesture of appreciation for mahouts and kavadis and their families, who remain closely involved with the Dasara elephants throughout the festival preparations.
The elephants undergo extensive training and care before taking part in key Dasara events. Their handlers are responsible for their daily feeding, health, training and movement during the festival period.
The breakfast programme provided an opportunity for officials to interact with the families ahead of the major Dasara events scheduled in October.
Tent school visited at Mysore Palace
Following the breakfast, the dignitaries visited a temporary ‘tent school’ established within the Palace premises for the children of forest camp workers.
Children associated with the forest camps presented dance performances during the programme. School bags were also distributed to the students.
The initiative is aimed at supporting the education of children of forest workers and providing them with access to learning facilities while their families are engaged in Dasara-related duties.
Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah also inaugurated a Panchakarma Ayurveda Centre located nearby during the programme.
Health camp for forest workers and families
A health check-up camp was also organised for Forest Department workers and their family members in association with Sainik Multi-Speciality Hospital, Ramakrishnanagar, Mysuru.
The camp was intended to provide medical services to people closely associated with the Dasara elephants and the forest camps.
Around 40 healthcare professionals participated in the health camp. It had five stalls and six counters to facilitate medical consultations and check-ups for the participants.
The health initiative formed another part of the programme aimed at supporting the families of forest workers during the busy Dasara preparation period.
Officials attend the programme
Several elected representatives and senior officials attended the breakfast and associated programmes.
Those present included MLAs G.T. Devegowda and Anil Chikkamadu, who is also the Chairman of Jungle Lodges and Resorts, MLC Dr D. Thimmaiah, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy and DCF Dr I.B. Prabhugowda.
Veterinarian Dr Adarsh, Palace Board Deputy Director T.S. Subramanya, Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner M.K. Savitha and DDPI Uday Kumar were also present.
Guarantee Scheme Vice-Chairman Dr B. Pushpa Amarnath, former MLA M.K. Somashekar and District Congress President Beerihundi Basavanna were among the other attendees, according to the report.
Dasara event posters released
The programme also coincided with the release of posters for several major Dasara 2026 events.
Posters for Yuva Dasara, Kambala, Raitha Dasara and Yoga Dasara were released by Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah at the Mysore Palace Board office.
With less than a month remaining for the main festival, preparations for the various Dasara programmes are gathering pace across Mysuru.
The 2026 celebrations will feature a range of cultural, sporting and traditional events, with the participation of the Dasara elephants remaining one of the festival’s central attractions.
Mahouts and kavadis play key role in Dasara
Mahouts and kavadis have a crucial role in the annual Mysuru Dasara celebrations. They work closely with the elephants brought from forest camps and are involved in their daily care and training.
The elephants are gradually acclimatised to the sights, sounds and crowds associated with the festival before participating in major events.
Their families also spend considerable time around the forest camps and Dasara preparations. Providing facilities such as health check-ups and educational support for their children forms part of the broader welfare measures associated with the festival preparations.
The breakfast programme therefore served as more than a ceremonial gathering, bringing officials and the families of the elephant handlers together ahead of the demanding festival schedule.
Dasara preparations gather pace
The event comes as Mysuru prepares for Dasara 2026, with various sub-committees working on cultural programmes, sporting events and other festival activities.
The release of posters for Yuva Dasara, Kambala, Raitha Dasara and Yoga Dasara marked another step in the preparations.
For the mahouts and kavadis, preparations are particularly important because the Dasara elephants must be ready for their ceremonial duties while maintaining their health and routine.
The Forest Department and veterinary teams monitor the elephants throughout the preparation period, while the handlers remain responsible for their daily care.
Conclusion
The Mysuru District Administration’s breakfast programme brought together more than 150 mahouts, kavadis and their family members at the Mysore Palace ahead of Dasara 2026. Along with the meal, the programme included a visit to the tent school, distribution of school bags, a health check-up camp and the release of posters for major Dasara events. The initiative highlighted the role of forest workers and their families in supporting the annual festival and its elephants.