Dasara - Festival of the Mysore State

Dasara known by different names, Dussera, dasha-hara, which is celebrated throughout India, is the state-festival (naaDa habba) for Karnataka.
Dasara celebrated during Navaratri, symbolised due to the killing of Ravana by Lord Rama, is celebrated for 9/10 days with great pomp and show across the city of Mysore.

This festival of Dasara, which occurs during the month of September/October is also famous for the pooja of Goddess Durga, in the form of Goddess Chamundi. There is a tradition of displaying toys at home during the month of Ashwayuja, throughout the southern part of Karnataka.

The celebrations for Dasara start on the first day of the navaratri (first day of ashwayuja month) and continues till the final day of Vijaya dashami (which is marked as a token of memory for celebrating the victory of Rama). There are various cultural programmes held for all the 10 days across the length and breadth of Mysore City, including dance programmes like Bharatanatya, musical programmes like Hindustani and carnatic. The programmes start at 6 pm in the evening and sometimes continue for the whole of the night.

Musical stalwarts from across the globe have performed at the dasara festival celebrations at Mysore. The famous jugalbandi of Bhimsen Joshi and BalamuraliKrishna was immortalised here, for the first time.
An exhibition of arts and culture is also held in the ground opposite to the Mysore Palace during the Dasara festival. There are also wrestling competitions held (known as Kusti spardhe) where wrestlers from all over India are invited.

The main attraction of the whole event, the golden howdah on top of elephants is held on the final day of Dasara, Vijaya dashami.

The tradition of the grand procession of Goddess Chamundeshwari in a golden howdah (golden ambaari) riding on top of the royally decorated elephant is said to be the most important event to be watched in the life of a person. The procession which starts afternoon circumbulates the palace and reaches the Banni Mantapa by evening.
Millions of people visit Mysore for getting a glimpse of the golden ambaari and goddess Chamundeshwari on top (aane ambaari).

This whole event has been going on since time immemorial. Earlier the king of Mysore used to follow the golden ambaari on top of another elephant, but the tradition has been stopped off late.