Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar hailed the festive spirit of Dasara in Mysuru and said the celebrations that will unfold over the next eleven days will offer a glimpse of India’s culture and heritage to both Indians and visitors.
Addressing the gathering after the Seer of Gavi Mutt inaugurated the festival atop Chamundi Hills, Shivakumar said Dasara is no longer confined to Mysuru but has spread across the state. He added that over the next eleven days people will see India through Mysuru and that the festival reflects the country’s heritage and is a symbol of pride.
He said Dasara has evolved from a royal celebration into a democratic festival, describing it as a people’s durbar that moves forward together in unity. He compared education to removing ignorance with knowledge, and Dasara to removing unrighteousness with righteousness, noting that seeing God in a temple is devotion while seeing God in a human being is humanity.
Shivakumar recalled the more than 400‑year history of Dasara, noting that the Wadiyars of Mysuru broadened it beyond worship to promote art and culture. He defended holding the traditional Kambala buffalo race during the festivities, citing a Vijayanagara‑era tradition of bringing buffaloes to Dasara, and said the government would start Kambala during Dasara from this year. He also highlighted art forms such as Dollu Kunitha, Tammate, Nagari, Veeragase, Kolata and Yakshagana, saying Dasara provides a major platform for these artists.
The festival will feature an air show by the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team, and contingents from the Army, Navy and Air Force will participate, a request that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accepted. Shivakumar expressed respect for religious institutions and Mutts, stating that they perform social welfare activities and should be accorded a status comparable to that of God, and that he considers himself a representative of their values.
