Mysuru: The Nandi Dhwaja pole snapped while being erected near Mahishasura statue circle atop Chamundi Hill, shortly before the inauguration of Dasara. 

Rituals had been performed for Nandi Dhwaja ahead of the festival. However, the pole broke while it was being erected this morning. 

One Mahadevappa’s team had brought two Nandi Dhwaja poles, but with one of them snapping, only the other pole remained for the ceremony. This incident sparked concerns among people, who viewed it as an ‘inauspicious sign’ at the start of 11-day festival.