Mysuru: The spectacular illumination of Mysuru has emerged as one of the major attractions of the 2026 Nada Habba, drawing lakhs of visitors to the heritage city. While the procession of caparisoned elephants carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari remains the centrepiece of Vijayadashami, the dazzling street lights and artistic installations have become a major attraction throughout the Dasara celebrations.

The Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) has illuminated a 146-km stretch of roads this year, compared with 136 km in 2025. The city’s streets, traffic circles and public spaces have been transformed with colourful LED displays, decorative arches and themed installations celebrating Karnataka’s heritage, culture and development.

The illumination will continue for 21 days, until October 31, giving residents and tourists several opportunities to experience Mysuru’s festive atmosphere beyond the main Vijayadashami procession.

Geethopadesha chariot emerges as a major attraction

One of the most prominent attractions this year is a large illuminated installation depicting the Geethopadesha chariot at LIC Millennium Circle. The display has drawn attention for its scale and visual presentation, adding a striking feature to the city’s festive landscape.

The installations across Mysuru also highlight Karnataka’s cultural heritage, traditions and development. Displays depicting government programmes, including the five guarantee schemes, form part of the wider illumination theme.

The combination of traditional imagery, public messaging and colourful lighting has helped make the illuminated city a destination in its own right during Dasara.

The displays have also gained visibility through social media, where visitors are sharing photographs and videos of the illuminated roads and installations. The growing circulation of these images has encouraged more people to visit Mysuru and experience the decorations in person.

Families flock to see illuminated Mysuru

The illumination has attracted visitors of different age groups, including families travelling from Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka.

Kavya, a college professor from Bengaluru, said her five-year-old son had insisted on visiting Mysuru after seeing the illumination on television and mobile phones. The family also wanted to watch the Dasara elephants.

She said they enjoyed the illuminated streets and took photographs during their visit. She also planned to show her son the elephants practising on the road near Bamboo Bazar, noting that watching them during their training would be easier than navigating the crowds on Vijayadashami day.

The experience illustrates how the illumination has become an attraction alongside the traditional Dasara events. While the procession draws enormous crowds on the festival’s concluding day, the extended illumination period allows visitors to explore the city at different times during the celebrations.

For many tourists, the lighting displays offer an opportunity to combine sightseeing with the cultural activities associated with Mysuru Dasara.

CESC teams work behind the scenes

The elaborate illumination is the result of extensive planning and work by CESC officials and employees. Hundreds of personnel have been involved in installing, operating and maintaining the lighting arrangements across the city.

According to the details released by CESC, 642 officials and employees have been deputed with responsibilities connected to the maintenance of Dasara illumination.

The work is being overseen under the guidance of Energy Minister K J George, CESC Chairperson Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, Technical Director L Lokesh, Managing Director M S Archana, Superintending Engineer of Mysuru Circle Sunil Kumar, and Executive Engineers Madesh and Sandeep.

The teams are responsible for ensuring that the extensive network of lights and installations remains operational throughout the festive period.

CESC Managing Director M S Archana said the illumination adds to the beauty of Mysuru during Dasara and provides a distinctive experience for visitors.

“During Dasara, the electrical illuminations enhance the city’s beauty and offer a unique experience to onlookers. The efforts of these ‘unseen hands’ are an integral part of the festivities,” she said.

The scale of the arrangements reflects the importance of illumination in the modern Dasara experience, complementing the festival’s religious and cultural traditions.

Drone shows planned at Bannimantap

Alongside the street illumination, drone shows have been organised at the Bannimantap grounds from October 17 to 21.

CESC has announced restrictions on the use of privately operated drones during this period. Individuals and organisations have been prohibited from flying their own drones to record footage or circulate it on social media without permission from the competent authority.

According to a release, action will be taken against those violating the restrictions, and unauthorised drone cameras may be confiscated.

The restrictions are intended to regulate drone operations during the scheduled shows and prevent unauthorised aerial recording in the designated area.

Visitors planning to capture photographs and videos of the celebrations should follow the applicable instructions and obtain permission where required.

Illumination extends the Dasara experience

Mysuru Dasara has traditionally been associated with the royal procession, religious ceremonies and cultural programmes. Over the years, the city’s illumination has become an additional attraction, drawing visitors throughout the festival period rather than only on Vijayadashami.

This year’s 146-km lighting network, 123 illuminated traffic circles and 80 illuminated installations underline the scale of the arrangements. Decorative arches and multi-coloured lighting add to the festive appearance of the heritage city.

With the illumination scheduled to continue until October 31, visitors still have time to explore the displays and experience Mysuru’s festive transformation. The combination of illuminated streets, cultural events, elephant-related activities and the drone shows at Bannimantap offers a varied experience for tourists and local residents alike.

Behind the spectacle are hundreds of CESC personnel whose work keeps the decorations running. Their contribution, together with the city’s cultural attractions, has helped make the illumination an integral part of Mysuru Dasara 2026.