DK Shivakumar Announces Schedule For 11-Day 2026 Mysuru Dasara Festival
The Karnataka government has officially finalised and announced the schedule for the 11-day 2026 Mysuru Dasara festival. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced the key dates on Friday, outlining a detailed plan to conduct the international festival in a disciplined manner while preserving its rich heritage, values, and cultural traditions.
Speaking at a press conference organized after a high-level review meeting, Chief Minister Shivakumar revealed that the traditional 'Gajapooje' is scheduled to take place on August 26, 2026, starting at 10:00 am. This event will mark the initial phase of the festival preparations.
The grand inauguration of the Mysuru Dasara festival will follow on October 11, 2026, at 11:00 am. The celebrations will culminate with the famous 'Jamboo Savari Pushparchane,' or floral tribute, which has been scheduled for October 21, 2026. This key event is set to occur between 4:10 pm and 4:35 pm, a time frame chosen to align with the auspicious 'Meena Lagna' period.
According to Chief Minister Shivakumar, the entire schedule was meticulously finalised after consulting with scholars and referring to the Mysuru 'Panchanga' to ensure all traditional timelines are strictly respected.
"We wanted to preserve the heritage, values and culture of Dasara. It is an international festival, and we will continue to make it better and conduct it in a more disciplined manner," Shivakumar told reporters during the briefing.
In addition to the traditional rituals, the Karnataka government is considering expanding the cultural reach of the festival. The Chief Minister indicated that the administration is currently planning to potentially invite internationally renowned singers to perform during the 11-day celebrations. He added that a final decision regarding these international performances would be made following further official discussions.
Despite the potential addition of global performers, Shivakumar emphasised that Karnataka’s local culture and historical traditions would remain the central focus of the 2026 Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
