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The 416th edition of the world-renowned Mysuru Dasara commenced with traditional rituals atop Chamundi Hill on October 11, 2026. Abhinava Sri Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji of Gavimutt, Koppal, formally inaugurated the Nada Habba by showering flower petals on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, who was adorned in a silk saree and gold and diamond jewellery on a silver chariot. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar led the festival for the first time in his capacity as CM, accompanied by his wife Usha Shivakumar and District Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah.

The ceremonial lamp was lit at 12.08 pm during the Dhanur Lagna, which occurred between 11.50 am and 12.13 pm. Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda presided over the event, where Shivakumar, dressed in a traditional silk dhoti and shirt, received a red carpet and Poorna Kumbha welcome from temple priests and folk troupes. Usha Shivakumar wore a blue and cream saree. Prior to the inauguration, the Swamiji performed ‘Agra Puja’ at the sanctum sanctorum with the Chief Minister and other ministers, later placing a shawl and garland on Shivakumar. Temple chief priest Dr. N. Shashishekar Dixit offered prasadam to the Swamiji and the Chief Minister couple, who bowed in reverence before the deity. Special pujas to the Goddess had begun at 5 am, and the presiding deity will be adorned with different alankaras during Navaratri.

Earlier at the entrance to Chamundi Hill, the Swamiji performed rituals to the Nandi Dhwaja, with the Chief Minister and his wife offering prayers. Traditional ensembles, including Mangala Vadya, Puja Kunita, Lingadevara Kunita, Veerabhadra Kunita, Tamate, and Chande troupes, welcomed the dignitaries. Following the inauguration, artistes sang the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, adhering to the State Government’s directive restricting its public rendition at State-run functions, followed by Kuvempu’s Naadageethe.

For the first time, hundreds of pontiffs from various Mutts across Karnataka attended the inauguration. More than 200 Swamijis arrived from Suttur in six buses and were given a traditional welcome at the Hill entrance. Special seating was arranged for the pontiffs, while colourful rangoli designs adorned the stretch from the Mahishasura statue to the stage. Sikh and Christian religious leaders also attended and were welcomed with floral garlands.

Other attendees included Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Eshwar Khandre, Minor Irrigation and Science and Technology Minister Ajay Dharam Singh, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rizwan Arshad, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture C. Puttarangashetty, Forest Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy, MP Sunil Bose, MLAs Tanveer Sait, K. Harishgowda, T.S. Srivatsa, Darshan Dhruvanarayan, D. Ravishankar, A.R. Krishnamurthy, and Anil Chikkamadu, MLCs C.N. Manjegowda, Raghu Kautilya, and K. Shivakumar, former Ministers K. Venkatesh and Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Additional DC R. Aishwarya, Sri Chamundeshwari Temple Development Authority Secretary M.J. Roopa, and City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar.

Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has prohibited the use of single-use plastic items at all venues hosting the Mysuru Dasara festival to maintain cleanliness and protect the environment. The ban covers the Food Mela, Flower Show, Dasara Exhibition, Yuva Dasara, cultural programmes at the Mysuru Palace premises, and other cultural and sporting events. Organisers, traders, food stall operators, visitors, and tourists are required to comply with these regulations.

Vendors and event organisers have been directed to replace plastic and thermocol plates, cups, glasses, spoons, forks, and straws with reusable utensils, areca nut leaf plates, and other eco-friendly alternatives. These restrictions also apply to food and beverages served to artists, staff, and guests at festival venues. Merchants are urged to encourage customers to carry cloth or paper bags, while visitors are advised to bring their own cloth bags for shopping. Additionally, the public and tourists are encouraged to use reusable water bottles to minimise plastic waste.

MCC has instructed organisers and stall operators to ensure the separate collection of wet and dry waste, which must be handed over to the Corporation’s authorised waste collection staff. Dumping garbage on roads, in drains, or in public places is strictly prohibited. MCC officials will conduct inspections at festival venues to ensure compliance, and violations involving the use of banned plastic products will invite appropriate legal action under applicable rules.

Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner MK Savitha has appealed to residents to refrain from dumping garbage along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to preserve the aesthetic appeal of the city’s outskirts. With the Mysuru Dasara festivities scheduled to commence on Sunday, the MCC, in collaboration with neighboring urban local bodies, executed a large-scale cleanliness drive along the ORR to enhance the city’s attractiveness for tourists.

The operation, part of the second phase of the ORR cleaning initiative under the theme ‘Swachha Mysuru-Sundara Mysuru’ (Clean Mysuru-Beautiful Mysuru), began at 6:30 am and covered multiple stretches of the Ring Road. Led by Savitha, officials and pourakarmikas removed accumulated garbage, plastic waste, construction debris, and other discarded materials from the roadside. The effort aims to ensure a cleaner environment during Dasara, a festival that draws lakhs of visitors to Mysuru annually.

Savitha directed officials to prevent illegal waste dumping along the ORR and maintain sustained cleanliness, instructing the relevant urban local bodies to coordinate their efforts. She emphasized the necessity of public participation, urging citizens to take responsibility for maintaining public spaces and avoiding roadside littering to prevent waste accumulation. Urban Development Cell project director Roopa BR and other officials participated in the drive.

The Mysuru government has released the draft reservation list for zilla panchayat (ZP) and taluk panchayat (TP) constituencies, a move that has intensified political activity by the Congress, JD(S), and BJP in the district. Under the new draft, the number of ZP seats in Mysuru has been reduced to 46 from 53, while TP seats have increased to 163. Rural development and panchayat raj minister Eshwara Khandre has announced plans to hold these long-pending rural body elections by the end of the year, prompting parties and aspirants to begin preparations. The tenure of the previous zilla panchayat ended in December 2021.

The announcement has triggered renewed enthusiasm among probable contestants seeking party tickets, including those whose constituencies have changed due to the reservation updates. In the previous draft, Mysuru district had 46 ZP seats and 160 TP seats, which had invited objections. Historically, Mysuru ZP had 46 seats two decades ago, a number that was later increased to 49 and then to 53 in 2021.

According to the latest draft notification, the distribution of ZP seats is as follows: Mysuru, T Narasipura, Periyapatna, and Hunsur taluks each have six seats; Nanjangud has nine; KR Nagar has three; Saligrama and HD Kote have four each; and Saragur taluk has two. Regarding reservations, out of the 46 ZP seats, 23 are reserved for women, 10 for scheduled castes, and 7 for the scheduled tribe. Of the 163 TP seats, 84 are reserved for women.

Agricultural activities across HD Kote taluk in Hampapura have been severely disrupted by the absence of expected rainfall and rising temperatures, leaving farmers and agricultural laborers in distress. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a maximum temperature of 32 degrees Celsius in the Hampapura region, making fieldwork increasingly challenging for workers. Local farmer Mahadevappa stated that the lack of rain during the critical sowing period has caused a water shortage, hindering winter crop preparation and land readiness. He expressed anxiety over whether the investment in crops will be recovered if the rains do not arrive, noting that the intense heat has replaced the anticipated monsoon showers.

The unseasonal heat has forced agricultural laborers to alter their working hours to avoid health risks. While workers previously operated from 10 am to 5 pm, many now begin their day at 7 am and finish by 2 pm to complete tasks during the cooler morning hours and escape the midday heat. This shift is necessary because working in the fields during peak heat is physically exhausting and requires frequent breaks. Hundreds of families in the rural areas of HD Kote taluk depend entirely on agricultural labor for their livelihood, and the current conditions have made it difficult to sustain long working hours.

Due to the stagnation in agricultural activities, job opportunities have decreased, prompting many laborers to migrate temporarily to Chamrajnagar, Kodagu, and Kerala in search of wage work. The weather and health department guidelines advise workers to reduce physical labor during peak heat, drink sufficient water, rest in the shade, and cover their heads. Taluk Health Officer T. Ravikumar advised that if symptoms such as headache, dizziness, excessive sweating, or weakness appear, workers should immediately stop work, rest in a shaded area, and contact the nearest health center if necessary. Lakshmamma, a female agricultural laborer from Hampapura, noted that it is now difficult to stand in the fields during the afternoon, necessitating breaks for water and shade.

Three elephants – Sugreeva, 44, from Dubare Elephant Camp; Roopa, 50, from Dodda Have Camp; and Chaitra, 55, from Rampura Camp – were formally welcomed at Mysuru Palace on Sunday, joining nine others that arrived on Aug 28, bringing the Dasara procession herd to twelve.

Following a day’s rest, the herd will commence rehearsals on Sept 15, walking the designated procession route twice daily to become accustomed to the sounds, crowds and activities of the festival. They are also being placed on a special diet to increase weight and strength for the demanding duties. DCF (wildlife) IG Prabhu Gouda told reporters that the elephants will not practice on Sunday and Monday, but all will begin practice together on Tuesday.

Senna spectabilis, an exotic fast‑growing tree, now covers over 40% of Karnataka’s Nagarahole National Park, threatening native vegetation and wildlife in the Western Ghats. The forest department, together with the Indian Institute of Wood Science and Technology, is drafting a protocol for eradication, warning that unchecked spread could alter the region’s ecology unless removal and habitat‑restoration measures are implemented.

The invasion marks another phase in the region’s long battle against invasive plants such as Parthenium, Eupatorium and Lantana, and is deemed especially hard to manage because the species grows rapidly and remains green even during the dry summer months.

Originating from Kerala, Senna spectabilis has spread into Karnataka and now dominates large stretches of Nagarahole and Bandipur National Parks as well as adjoining forests in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In Nagarahole, which spans about 842 sq km, dense growth of the tree suppresses native grasses and other vegetation, hindering natural regeneration.

Experts are particularly worried about the impact on grasslands and bamboo habitats, both crucial to the forest ecosystem, and note that herbivores generally do not feed on its leaves, further limiting its ecological value as a food source.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Kumar Pushkar said, “The rapid proliferation of Senna spectabilis in Nagarahole and Bandipur has become a critical ecological threat comparable to the earlier spread of Lantana camara.” He added that scientific intervention is essential because improper removal could trigger even denser regrowth.

Pushkar explained that the central challenge lies in the species’ high coppicing ability and resilient root system, stating that simply cutting the trees down results in vigorous regeneration from the remaining roots. Trials near Murkal in Nagarahole showed that cut patches regenerated more densely, leading him to stress that complete removal of the root system is essential for effective eradication.

The tree spreads rapidly through seeds dispersed by wind and water and can also regenerate from its roots. Consequently, experts recommend continuous monitoring and repeated clearing operations for at least five years after removal.

Forest authorities and NGOs have already undertaken small‑scale removal and habitat‑restoration efforts at DB Kuppe, Antharasanthe, Nagarahole, Veeranahosahalli and Hunagund.

Karnataka is also exploring the Tamil Nadu model of supplying harvested Senna wood to paper mills, with West Coast Paper Mills expressing interest.

A Wayanad‑based NGO has been assigned a trial plot in Nagarahole for manual uprooting of the species, although officials describe the method as highly labour‑intensive.

Mysuru, home to almost nine lakh cattle and livestock, urgently requires more veterinary services after dark, especially for remote and border villages in Sargur and HD Kote taluks. Ten mobile veterinary units currently operate district‑wide, offering doorstep emergency aid via the 1962 helpline, but only from 9 am to 5 pm.

Farmers’ representatives Hosur Kumar and P Marankaiah say that ryots in those remote and border areas are left without assistance during night hours.

JD(S) MLC C N Manjegowda raised the concern in the Assembly, asking whether the government has acknowledged the difficulty of handling night‑time emergency veterinary cases given the 5 pm cut‑off.

Animal Husbandry Minister C Puttarangashetty replied that the state had submitted a proposal to the Union government in February 2025 to run the existing 275 units in two shifts—6 am to 2 pm and 2 pm to 10 pm—and to add 125 more vehicles for better coverage, but the Centre rejected the request.

The minister noted that the mobile units treated 1,434 animals in March and 1,388 in April 2026, averaging roughly 50 animals per day.

Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services N M Siddaramu confirmed the ten units under the 1962 helpline and added that each taluk also has its own mobile units on fixed routes, though providing doorstep service in the larger Sargur and HD Kote taluks remains challenging.

The Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir’s water level fell about five feet over the past eight days, reaching 106.5 ft on Tuesday with an inflow of 2,289 cusecs and an outflow of 4,073 cusecs, prompting worries that Mysuru, Mandya and Bengaluru could face drinking‑water shortages if Cauvery inflows do not improve and Karnataka must keep releasing 6,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for another 15 days.

K Raghuram, superintendent engineer of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL), said roughly 2.5 tmc of water is needed each month for drinking purposes and that water can be drawn from KRS until the level falls to 65 ft; he added the state government has not ordered dam authorities to release water to Tamil Nadu.

Farmers and Kannada organisations protested on the old Bengaluru‑Mysuru highway in Mandya against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) order to release 6,000 cusecs daily to Tamil Nadu for another 15 days, calling the directive unscientific and urging priority for Karnataka’s drinking‑water needs.

To help sustain KRS, outflows from the Hemavathi reservoir in Hassan district have been increased; Hemavathi joins the Cauvery at Sangama in KR Pet taluk before entering KRS, a step aimed at meeting Cauvery release obligations as the Kabini reservoir in HD Kote approaches depletion.

Kabini had provided relief in August after heavy rainfall in its Wayanad catchment, allowing surplus water to flow into Tamil Nadu for nearly three weeks, but its storage has since fallen sharply.

Overall storage in Karnataka’s four major Cauvery‑basin reservoirs has dropped to 72.5 tmc, about 63 % of their combined capacity of 114.5 tmc, versus 113 tmc on the same date last year.

On Tuesday, Kabini recorded an inflow of 1,751 cusecs and an outflow of 1,441 cusecs; Hemavathi received 3,414 cusecs and released 9,150 cusecs; Harangi logged an inflow of 833 cusecs and an outflow of 1,700 cusecs. Collectively, the four reservoirs took in 8,287 cusecs and released 16,364 cusecs, resulting in a net drawdown in storage.

From November 11 to 21, the Archaeology Museum and Heritage Department area inside the Dasara exhibition grounds at Dodda Kere Maidan in Mysuru will host a special Navadurga doll display, a first‑time attraction aimed at drawing tourists to the state’s Dasara celebrations.

The department has decided to arrange five rows of dolls that portray the avatars of Navadurga in the Varanda, following the traditional practice of setting up dolls on an odd number of tiers, with each avatar’s dolls selected by officials.

The nine avatars to be represented are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.

Deputy Director (Heritage) C.N. Manjula told journalists that the department will also showcase Navadurga dolls as part of the Navaratri doll‑arranging tradition.

During the house‑to‑house outreach, doll arrangers will visit 10 to 15 homes and award prizes; the top three awards are Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000. Applications will be invited, and visits to view dolls will take place from the 11th to the 14th.

To raise tourist awareness of Mysore’s heritage, historic sites and traditional architecture, organizers will hold traditional bicycle rides, heritage walks and other programmes, with history experts providing site information. A tanga ride will be arranged for couples dressed in Mysore peta, panche and Mysore silk saree.

A “Selfie with Heritage Building” photo competition is being launched to attract youth and Gen‑Z participants; applications are invited and three winners will receive prizes for the best heritage‑themed selfies.

Manjula, Deputy Director of the Heritage Department, said that a range of events has been organized during Dasara to effectively showcase Mysore’s cultural legacy.