Sir,

I was at the Jumboo Savari at Mysore Palace yesterday and was shocked by the restroom access arrangements during a programme that lasted around six hours. Gold Card and VVIP pass holders who leave their seats to use the restroom are made to wait in an enclosure for one to two hours and are denied re-entry to the very seats for which they paid Rs. 6,961 (including GST and other charges).

With mobile phones rendered unusable by jammers, those stranded have little means of seeking help. They are told that they should not have gone to the toilet in the first place, despite it being a basic biological need. Police, meanwhile, turned a blind eye as anxious spectators shouted for their attention.

The Chief Minister had left and the elephants had passed. Yet these unfortunate spectators remained confined to the enclosure, unable to return to their seats. What kind of duty are the Police performing?

Who is the superior officer they can turn to for guidance on the difference between following orders and using common sense and empathy, rather than subjecting ordinary people to bullying and harassment?

How will this mismanagement of restroom access at Palace on Vijayadashami Day and the trauma it causes spectators, be addressed? Will people have to resort to wearing adult diapers at next year’s Dasara?

Denying people access to a restroom without subjecting them to such consequences is an affront to their basic dignity. The Dasara Special Officer must take this issue seriously and ensure that spectators do not face a similar ordeal next year.

Otherwise, the invitation to next year’s Dasara should carry a line in bold: “Entry allowed only for those wearing diapers.”

— Lakshmi Nanda

Vijayanagar 4th Stage

22.10.2026