Do not crowd Dasara into 9, 10 or 11 days

Give Mysuru tourism a full-year calendar

Sir,

Mysuru’s Dasara has grown from a centuries-old tradition into Karnataka’s Nada Habba (Navaratri). But as the festival grows, perhaps it is time to ask whether bigger necessarily means putting more and more events into the same nine, ten or eleven days.

The world-famous Dasara procession is reason enough for Mysuru to be on the global tourism map. Millions witness the spectacle physically and virtually.

Around it, however, an increasingly large number of programmes are being added to the festival calendar. This year, Kambala — the traditional sport of coastal Karnataka — has also found a place in the celebrations.

The intention is understandable: Bring the many cultures and traditions of Karnataka to Mysuru. But there is another way to achieve the same objective.

Spread the celebration, not the chaos. Instead of squeezing every cultural and sporting event into ten days, Mysuru could host them throughout the year. Each event could be planned as an independent attraction, with dedicated promotion, infrastructure and tourism packages.

The result could be significant. An event that currently receives attention for a day or two during Dasara could potentially attract visitors on its own. Local businesses would benefit.

Artistes and performers would have more opportunities. Traditional sports could develop larger audiences. Artisans could find new markets. Hotels and restaurants could see tourism demand beyond the Dasara season.

Most importantly, visitors would have a reason to return to Mysuru repeatedly. Dasara can continue to be the grand celebration and culminate in the iconic procession. But every tradition of Karnataka need not compete for attention during the same ten-day window.

Give every event its own stage. Give every tradition its own audience. Give Mysuru tourism a full-year calendar. The objective should not be to make Dasara bigger. It should be to make Mysuru bigger as a year-round cultural destination.

—Lakan Ashvij

Bogadi

2.10.2026