Mysuru: A spectacular drone show featuring 3,500 LED-equipped drones illuminated the night sky over the Torchlight Parade Grounds in Bannimantap on Saturday, October 17, captivating thousands of spectators as part of the Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
The synchronised aerial display combined heritage, culture, religious imagery and modern technology, presenting 12 colourful formations that appeared one after another against the night sky. Among the highlights were Goddess Chamundeshwari, a lion, a giant peacock and an elephant carrying the golden howdah, reflecting the grandeur and traditions of Mysuru Dasara.
Goddess Chamundeshwari, golden howdah steal the show
The show began with a visual depicting Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar welcoming people to the Dasara festivities. The drones then created a series of elaborate formations, transforming the sky into a canvas of light and colour.
A galaxy, soldier, butterfly, peacock and lion were among the images presented during the spectacle. Religious formations, including the Sudarshana Chakra and Shiva Tandava, also drew the attention of spectators.
The display celebrated Mysuru’s cultural and spiritual heritage through images of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the golden howdah and a Nandi statue. The formation of an elephant carrying the golden howdah evoked one of the most recognisable symbols of the annual Dasara festivities.
The giant peacock formation was another major attraction, with the drones moving in coordinated patterns to create a striking image in the night sky.
Music performances precede drone show
The evening’s programme began with performances by singers Indu Nagaraj, Sri Harsha, Vyasaraj, Divya Ramachandra and Aishwarya Rangarajan. Their performances entertained the audience before the drone show began.
The combination of live music and the aerial spectacle added to the festive atmosphere at the Torchlight Parade Grounds, where spectators gathered to witness the technology-driven presentation.
The show demonstrated how drone technology can be incorporated into traditional celebrations to create large-scale visual experiences while showcasing local heritage and cultural identity.
CESC organises show with Guinness World Records ambition
The drone show was organised by the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) as part of the Mysuru Dasara festivities. The event also marked an attempt by the organisation to enter the Guinness World Records through a peacock formation created using thousands of drones.
District in-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah inaugurated the event in the presence of several public representatives and officials.
MLAs Tanveer Sait and Ramesh Bandisiddegowda attended the programme, along with CESC chairman and actor Anusha Rai. Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Police Commissioner Seema Latkar and CESC Managing Director M.S. Archana were among the officials present.
The record attempt centred on creating a spectacular peacock formation in the sky using the fleet of LED-equipped drones. The outcome of the Guinness World Records attempt was not specified in the available information.
Technology adds a new dimension to Dasara
The drone show added a contemporary attraction to Mysuru Dasara, a festival renowned for its religious traditions, cultural programmes and grand processions. By combining familiar symbols of Mysuru with advanced aerial technology, the organisers presented the city’s heritage in a different visual format.
The 3,500 drones, moving in synchrony to create 12 distinct formations, turned the night sky into a large-scale display celebrating the festival’s traditions and grandeur.