Mysuru: Koppal Gavimath seer Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji will inaugurate the 2026 Mysuru Dasara celebrations, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
The seer has accepted the State Government’s invitation to inaugurate the Nada Habba Dasara, which will be held from October 11 to 21 this year. The official Mysuru Dasara programme lists the main inauguration at the Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill at 11.50 am on October 11.
The announcement comes after several names were reportedly discussed for the prestigious role, including Supreme Court judge Justice B V Nagarathna and former Indian cricketers Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble.
CM confirms seer’s participation
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced the decision in the Legislative Assembly and said he had spoken to Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji over the phone.
According to the Chief Minister, the invitation was formally extended to the Koppal seer to inaugurate the State’s flagship cultural festival, and he accepted it.
The decision places a prominent religious and social figure from North Karnataka at the centre of this year’s Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
The official Dasara website confirms that the 2026 festival will run from October 11 to October 21, culminating in the Vijayadashami celebrations and the grand Jamboo Savari.
Who is Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji?
Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji was born as Parvataiah, also referred to as Paruthadevaru, in Hagargundi village of Kalaburagi district.
He assumed charge as the pontiff of Koppal Gavimath on December 13, 2002, after being appointed the 18th pontiff by Shivashanthaveera Swamiji.
Since taking charge, he has been associated with efforts to expand the Gavimath’s social and public-service activities.
His work has particularly drawn attention to water conservation and social welfare in North Karnataka. A major initiative associated with him is the Jala Deekshe campaign, which focused on addressing water scarcity and encouraging the revival and desilting of lakes.
His selection for the Mysuru Dasara inauguration therefore brings a figure associated with religious service, education and water-conservation initiatives to the State’s most prominent cultural festival.
Several names were considered
Before the government finalised the invitation, several prominent personalities were reportedly discussed for the Dasara inauguration.
A section of farmers and politicians had sought the invitation to Justice B V Nagarathna, while the names of former Indian cricket captains Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble were also reportedly under consideration.
The selection process attracted attention because the Dasara inauguration is one of the most closely followed events in Karnataka’s annual cultural calendar.
The government has now confirmed that the Koppal Gavimath seer will preside over the opening ceremony.
Dasara inauguration at Chamundi Hill
The 2026 Dasara inauguration will take place at the Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill.
According to the official programme, the inauguration is scheduled between 11.50 am and 12.13 pm on October 11, during the prescribed Dhanur lagna. The ceremony includes the Chamundeshwari puja.
The inaugural day will also feature several other Dasara programmes across Mysuru.
The Dasara CM Cup 2026 sporting events are scheduled to begin on October 11, while the Aahara Mela and Dasara Fruit and Flower Show will also be inaugurated on the same day.
The evening programme includes the inauguration of Dasara electric illumination on Sayyaji Rao Road, followed by the lighting of the Mysuru Palace.
Ten-day celebrations across Mysuru
Mysuru Dasara 2026 will be celebrated for 11 days, from October 11 to October 21.
The festival calendar includes cultural programmes, sports competitions, food festivals, flower and fruit shows, farmers’ programmes, women’s and children’s events, yoga programmes, poetry gatherings and traditional celebrations.
The official Dasara website says more than 100 programmes are planned during the festival period.
The Palace stage will host cultural programmes during the festival, while the city’s major public spaces will accommodate various Dasara-related events.
The Aahara Mela, for instance, is scheduled to run from October 11 to October 25, extending beyond the main Dasara period.
Jamboo Savari to mark Vijayadashami
The festival will conclude with the grand Jamboo Savari on October 21, the central attraction of Mysuru Dasara.
The official website lists the procession from the Mysuru Palace towards Bannimantap, with the golden howdah procession forming the centrepiece of Vijayadashami celebrations.
The celebrations around Vijayadashami will also include the Torchlight Parade at Bannimantap, while the Dasara illumination and cultural programmes will continue to draw visitors throughout the festival.
The official programme also lists drone shows at Bannimantap on October 17, 18, 20 and 21.
Focus on wider participation
The selection of the Koppal Gavimath seer also gives the 2026 celebrations a wider geographical representation, bringing a prominent personality from North Karnataka into the centre of Mysuru’s annual festival.
Chief Minister Shivakumar has also invited members of both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature to attend the Dasara festivities.
The festival traditionally brings together religious, cultural, artistic, sporting and public events, attracting visitors from across Karnataka and other parts of the country.
With the inauguration now decided, attention will turn to the final preparations for the various events scheduled across Mysuru.
Dasara preparations gather pace
Preparations for the 2026 festivities have been progressing across Mysuru, with different sub-committees working on individual programmes.
The official programme includes Raitha Dasara from October 16 to 18, with a farmers’ procession, agricultural exhibition and felicitation of progressive farmers. Yoga Dasara is scheduled from October 14 to 19, while the Dasara Kavigoshti will be held from October 13 to 17.
The city will also host art, handicraft and cultural activities during the festival period.
These programmes are being organised alongside the traditional Palace events and the major public attractions associated with Mysuru Dasara.
Mysuru prepares for another major festival season
The announcement of the inaugurator is an important milestone ahead of the 2026 Dasara celebrations.
With Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji accepting the invitation, the State Government has finalised the person who will formally open this year’s Nada Habba.
The choice comes after several prominent names were discussed for the role, while the final programme brings together events representing different regions, communities and cultural traditions of Karnataka.
Conclusion
Mysuru Dasara 2026 will be inaugurated by Koppal Gavimath seer Sri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji on October 11 at the Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill. The festival will continue until October 21, when the traditional Jamboo Savari will mark the Vijayadashami celebrations.
With the inauguration now confirmed and a packed programme of cultural, sporting, agricultural and traditional events lined up, preparations are entering the final phase ahead of the annual celebrations.