Mysuru: The Torchlight Parade at the sprawling Bannimantap Grounds last night brought down curtains on the 11-day Dasara festivities.

The dazzling Torchlight Parade by the Karnataka Police, special music performance, Drone Show, tent pegging and obstacle jumping by the Mounted Police and spectacular fireworks were a visual delight to thousands of spectators.

The event got off to a start after Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot received salute and Parade Commandant K.N. Suresh presented a report and invited the Governor to inspect various Police contingents. The Governor, who mounted an open jeep, inspected various Police contingents during which he was given a Guard of Honour. The Police fired in the air and the Police Band played the National Anthem during which 21 shots were fired from the cannons.

Later, Singer Chaitra and Dr. Sumanth Vashista troupe rendered the Naada Geethe.

Special instrumental music

 A special instrumental music performance titled ‘Damaruga’ by over 400 musicians from across the country and led by Arun Kumar and Ganeshan Govindaswamy, played drums, nagaari, chande, violin and various other percussion instruments which made the audience shake their legs to the beats. Various dance performances also mesmerised the audience.

Equestrian Show

An equestrian show by Sharanappa D. Sasanur, H.K. Somanna, Chandra, Rudrappa, Mahesh, Suresh Malali, Sandesh and Jayaprakash from Mysuru Mounted Police battalion, who reined their horses performed tent pegging, obstacle jumping, slow jumping and cross jumping, thus showing their expertise much to the delight of the audience, who cheered them.

Drone Show

 Another attraction at the Torchlight Parade was the Drone Show by using about 3,000 drones which created the formations of a soldier, peacock, tiger, whale, eagle, Lord Krishna’s Kalinga Mardhana, an elephant carrying the Golden Howdah and Goddess Chamundeshwari among others in the sky which made the audience stand up, click photos and record videos on their mobile phones.

Torchlight Parade

About 300 trainees from Dharwad Police Training School holding fire torches created various formations with messages thus drawing an end to the 11-day Dasara festivities. They marched to the background music played by the Police Band under the guidance of City Armed Reserve (CAR) DCP Siddanagowda Y. Patil and Reserve Police Inspector K.M. Murthy.

The trainees created Welcome, Jai Chamundeshwari, Gandhi Jayanti wish, Nudi Kannada Nade Kannada, Jeeva Nadi Cauvery, Negila Yogige Namana, Karnataka Police, Namma Police Namma Hemme and Jai Hind using the torches.

Later, colourful fireworks brought down the curtains on the grand Dasara 2025.

Guinness World Record

At the Torchlight Parade, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot presented the Guinness World Record certificate to Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) Managing Director K.M. Munigopal Raju. The formation of National Animal Tiger by the drones had bagged the Guinness World Record.

The only attraction the audience missed was the thrilling performance by the ‘Shwet Ashwa’, team of 33 Corps of Military Police (Indian Army) personnel which had been entertaining the audience by performing breathtaking stunts on Royal Enfield and Hero Xpulse Pro bikes at Torchlight Parade Grounds in Bannimantap.  

CM Siddaramaiah, DCM D.K. Shivakumar, District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa and MLA Tanveer Sait were present.