With preparations nearly complete, Chamundi Hill has been decorated to mark the start of Mysuru Dasara on Sunday, the opening of the 11‑day State festival.
Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Swami of Gavimath, Koppal, will light the traditional lamp to formally inaugurate the festivities. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, Minister in charge of Mysuru district Yathindra Siddaramaiah and other dignitaries will be present at the ceremony.
A major highlight of this year’s inaugural ceremony will be the participation of more than 200 heads of various religions, invited by the State government to witness the celebrations. Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikantha Reddy said seating arrangements are being made on the hill for around 2,000 people who can view the event.
At the Chamundeshwari Temple, preparations are underway for the special rituals to be performed on Sunday and the puja by the chief guest, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries before the inauguration. Chief priest Shashishekar Dikshit is overseeing the arrangements, which will begin in the early hours of Sunday, the first day of Navaratri.
The idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, which will be placed in the silver chariot during the inaugural ceremony, has been readied for the ritual. Dignitaries will offer flowers to the deity and participate in the traditional lamp‑lighting. The temple is being specially decorated, with the idol inside to be adorned in different forms of alankara throughout the nine days of Navaratri; the first day will feature Sapthamatruka alankara, and the Dasara inauguration will take place between 11.50 a.m. and 12.15 p.m.
