Mysore Dasara 2026 Day by Day: 11–21 October Schedule Guide

Quick answer: Mysore Dasara 2026 runs for eleven days, from Sunday 11 October to Wednesday 21 October. It opens on Chamundi Hill at 11:50 AM on 11 October (Dhanur Lagna, as reported) and ends with the Jamboo Savari on Wednesday 21 October, when the floral tribute to the goddess in the Golden Howdah is fixed for 4:10–4:35 PM (Meena Lagna), followed by the torchlight parade at Bannimantap. In between, the palace is lit up every evening and the city hosts cultural programmes, the Dasara exhibition and much more. Not yet announced: the howdah elephant, Gold Card prices, the chief guest and the dates of the air show and drone show.

Mysore Dasara 2026 at a glance

The day-by-day sections below describe what typically happens at Mysore Dasara. The fixed points (the inauguration, the Jamboo Savari muhurat and the torchlight parade) are confirmed for 2026; the exact line-up of concerts, sports, Yuva Dasara and other programmes is published by the Dasara committees shortly before and during the festival, so always check the official schedule on the day.

Why Mysuru's Vijayadashami is on 21 October

If you are following Dussehra elsewhere, you will see Tuesday 20 October. Mysuru is different this year, and it is not a mistake. The Dashami tithi runs from 12:50pm IST on 20 October to 2:11pm IST on 21 October. Calendars that use the afternoon (Aparahna) rule choose the 20th, because Dashami covers that afternoon. Karnataka's Mysuru panchanga uses the tithi prevailing at sunrise, and at sunrise on Wednesday 21 October it is still Dashami, so the Jamboo Savari is on the 21st.

That also shifts the days before it: in the Mysuru panchanga, Durga Ashtami is Monday 19 October and Maha Navami and Ayudha Puja are Tuesday 20 October. Tamil Nadu, by contrast, marks Saraswathi and Ayutha Poojai on Monday 19 October and Vijayadasami on Tuesday 20 October. Our Karnataka district-wise guide explains the rule in more detail.

Day 1 — Sunday 11 October: inauguration on Chamundi Hill

Dasara begins at the Chamundeshwari temple on Chamundi Hill, the hilltop shrine of the goddess who, in legend, slew the demon Mahishasura and gave Mysuru its name. The inauguration is reported for 11:50 AM in the Dhanur Lagna. By tradition a chief guest lights the lamp and offers flowers to the goddess in the presence of state dignitaries. The 2026 chief guest has not yet been announced.

In the palace, the Navaratri rituals of the Wadiyar royal family begin, including the private durbar held during these nine nights. In the evening, Mysore Palace and the main roads of the city are illuminated for the first time; the lights are typically switched on every evening of the festival and are the single most photographed sight of Dasara. The Dasara exhibition on the grounds opposite the palace usually opens around this time and runs well beyond the festival itself.

• Getting there: Chamundi Hill is busy on inauguration morning, and access for the public can be restricted around the ceremony. Most visitors watch the coverage and head up the hill later in the day or on another morning.
• Evening: walk around the palace and Sayyaji Rao Road to see the lights.

Day 2 — Monday 12 October: cultural programmes begin in earnest

From the second day, Dasara settles into its rhythm. Evenings typically bring classical music and dance on the stage in front of the palace, with further programmes at other venues across the city: auditoriums, open-air stages and the university. Weekday afternoons are the calmest time to visit the palace interior, St Philomena's Church, Jaganmohan Palace art gallery and the zoo before the weekend crowds arrive.

• Best for: visitors who want to see the palace and museums without peak crowds.
• Tip: festival programmes are published in local newspapers and on official Dasara channels; check them each morning, as details change.

Day 3 — Tuesday 13 October: the city fills with themed Dasaras

Mysore Dasara is really many festivals at once. Over the eleven days, the organisers typically run themed strands such as Yuva Dasara (youth music concerts), Raitha Dasara (celebrating farmers and rural life), Mahila Dasara (programmes by and for women), Makkala Dasara (for children), a poets' gathering, a food festival and a film festival. Which strand falls on which day is announced by the committees, and the dates for Yuva Dasara in 2026 had not been announced when we last checked.

• Best for: families, food lovers and anyone interested in Karnataka's music and literature.
• Tip: the food festival is usually one of the most popular evening outings; go early.

Day 4 — Wednesday 14 October: sports, wrestling and the flower show

Mid-festival days often feature Dasara sports and the traditional Dasara wrestling (kusti) contests, which have deep roots in Mysuru's royal patronage. The flower show is another long-standing favourite. Each of these runs on its own schedule, so treat this day as a good one to sample whatever the 2026 programme lists, rather than as a fixed date for any of them.

• Best for: visitors staying several nights who want something beyond the palace.
• Tip: mid-week evenings are noticeably less crowded than weekends for the palace lights.

Day 5 — Thursday 15 October: elephant rehearsals and heritage Mysuru

The Dasara elephants, brought to Mysuru from forest camps in the weeks before the festival, are a major draw. Through Navaratri they are trained for the Jamboo Savari, including walking rehearsals along the procession route and sessions that get them used to crowds and noise. Rehearsal timings are set by the forest department and are not always announced in advance.

The elephant that will carry the Golden Howdah in 2026 had not been announced at the time of writing. We will add it to this guide once the Dasara authorities confirm it.

• Best for: photographers and families with children (from a safe, permitted distance).
• Tip: combine the day with Srirangapatna or the Brindavan Gardens, both an easy trip from the city; Srirangapatna's own Dasara date for 2026 has not yet been announced.

Day 6 — Friday 16 October: the run-up to the final weekend

The last six days are the busiest. Hotels fill up, traffic around the palace slows in the evenings, and the illuminated city draws visitors from Bengaluru and beyond. If you have only a weekend, Friday evening is a good time to arrive, see the lights and get your bearings before Saturday's crowds.

• Best for: weekend visitors arriving from Bengaluru.
• Tip: book accommodation and onward transport early for the final weekend and for 21 October.

Day 7 — Saturday 17 October: peak weekend

Saturday is typically one of the most crowded days of the festival. The palace lights, cultural stages and exhibition all run, and many people use the weekend to climb or drive up Chamundi Hill for darshan of Chamundeshwari during Navaratri. Expect long queues at the temple; going early in the morning helps.

• Best for: a full festival day if you are not staying for the Jamboo Savari.
• Tip: arrange a meeting point in case you are separated in the crowds near the palace.

Day 8 — Sunday 18 October: second weekend day

Sunday follows the same pattern as Saturday, with large crowds through the evening. For Telugu families, Sunday 18 October is also Saddula Bathukamma in the Telangana calendar, the grand finale of the Bathukamma festival, so Telugu visitors in Mysuru may want to mark it at home or with friends.

In some years the Dasara air show over Bannimantap and a drone show are held during the final days of the festival. The 2026 dates for both had not been announced when we last checked.

Day 9 — Monday 19 October: Durga Ashtami

In the Mysuru panchanga, Monday 19 October is Durga Ashtami, a day of special worship for the goddess at Chamundi Hill and at temples across the city. The final days of Navaratri carry the most important rituals in the palace and the temples, and crowds stay high. Rehearsals for the Jamboo Savari and the torchlight parade often run around this point, with the full-dress rehearsal close to the final day.

• Best for: devotees who want to visit Chamundi Hill during the main Navaratri days.
• Tip: if you have a Gold Card or event pass for 21 October, confirm the collection arrangements and gate details now.

Day 10 — Tuesday 20 October: Maha Navami and Ayudha Puja

Tuesday 20 October is Maha Navami and Ayudha Puja in Mysuru. In the palace, the royal family traditionally worships weapons, the state vehicles, the elephants, horses and cattle, and the tools of the household. Across Karnataka, families and businesses clean and decorate vehicles, machines and tools, and many shops close early. Vehicles with banana stems and marigolds tied to the front are a common sight.

Elsewhere in India and the diaspora, 20 October is Vijayadashami, with the Vijay Muhurat in Mysuru calculated at 2:06–2:53 PM IST for that date. If your family follows the Aparahna-rule calendar, that is your window; if you follow the Mysuru panchanga, your Vijayadashami is the next day.

Day 11 — Wednesday 21 October: Vijayadashami, Jamboo Savari and torchlight parade

The grand finale. After the royal family's Vijayadashami rituals in the palace, including the traditional worship of the Shami (banni) tree, the Jamboo Savari begins. The idol of the goddess Chamundeshwari is placed in the Golden Howdah on the lead elephant, and the floral tribute is fixed for 4:10–4:35 PM in the Meena Lagna. The procession of elephants, tableaux from the districts, folk troupes, bands and mounted police then winds from Mysore Palace through the city to Bannimantap.

In the evening, the torchlight parade is held at the Bannimantap parade grounds: a display of horsemanship, marching contingents and other performances that brings the festival to a close. The chief guest for the torchlight parade is usually a senior state dignitary; 2026 details had not been announced at the time of writing.

• Seats: Gold Card holders and pass holders get seats in the palace enclosure and at Bannimantap. Prices and sale dates for 2026 have not been announced; buy only through official channels when they are.
• Free viewing: thousands watch the procession from the roadside along the route. Arrive several hours early, carry water and expect a long wait.
• Getting home: roads around the palace and Bannimantap are closed for much of the day, and traffic after the torchlight parade is heavy. Plan your return and do not drive in if you can avoid it.

Vijay Muhurat and key timings for Mysuru

Watching from abroad? Do not convert these Indian times to your local muhurat. India's windows are calculated for Indian sunrise and sunset; if you want to observe Vijayadashami where you live, use your local window from the Dussehra 2026 pillar guide or one of our country guides.

Still to be announced for 2026

As of 4 October, these details had not been officially confirmed. We will update this guide as soon as they are:

• The elephant that will carry the Golden Howdah.
• Gold Card prices and the sale date.
• The chief guest for the inauguration.
• Dates for the air show, the drone show and Yuva Dasara.
• The detailed day-by-day cultural programme.

Planning tips for NRI families visiting Mysuru

• Fly into Bengaluru; Mysuru is reachable by road and rail. Leave extra time on 21 October.
• Book accommodation early for 17–18 October and for 20–21 October, the busiest nights.
• Dress for heat in the day and carry a light rain layer: October can bring showers.
• Keep valuables to a minimum in the crowds, and agree a meeting point with children.
• Respect temple dress codes at Chamundi Hill, and follow police and forest department instructions near the elephants.

For hotels, transport and sights, see our Mysore Dasara 2026 visitor guide. For the wider festival season, see Sharad Navratri to Dussehra 2026.

Frequently asked questions

When is Mysore Dasara 2026?

Mysore Dasara 2026 runs from Sunday 11 October to Wednesday 21 October. The inauguration on Chamundi Hill is reported for 11:50 AM on 11 October in the Dhanur Lagna, and the Jamboo Savari procession and torchlight parade are on Wednesday 21 October.

Why is the Jamboo Savari on 21 October when Dussehra is on 20 October elsewhere?

The Dashami tithi runs from 12:50pm IST on 20 October to 2:11pm IST on 21 October. Calendars that use the afternoon (Aparahna) rule mark Vijayadashami on the 20th. Karnataka's Mysuru panchanga uses the tithi prevailing at sunrise, which picks Wednesday 21 October, so the Jamboo Savari falls on the 21st.

What time is the Jamboo Savari floral tribute in 2026?

The floral tribute to the goddess Chamundeshwari in the Golden Howdah, which formally starts the Jamboo Savari, is fixed for 4:10–4:35 PM on Wednesday 21 October, in the Meena Lagna. The procession then moves from Mysore Palace to Bannimantap, where the torchlight parade is held in the evening.

Which elephant will carry the Golden Howdah in 2026?

This had not been announced when we last checked. The choice of the howdah elephant is confirmed by the Dasara authorities closer to the festival; we will add it to this guide once it is official.

How much are Gold Card passes for Mysore Dasara 2026?

Gold Card prices and the sale date for 2026 have not yet been announced. Check the official Mysore Dasara channels of the Government of Karnataka and the district administration, and avoid unofficial resellers.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Mysuru?

For Tuesday 20 October, the Vijayadashami date in calendars that follow the Aparahna rule, the Vijay Muhurat in Mysuru is 2:06–2:53 PM IST. On Mysuru's own Vijayadashami, Wednesday 21 October, the key fixed muhurat is the Jamboo Savari floral tribute at 4:10–4:35 PM.

Editor's note

Editor's note (4 October 2026): the inauguration time (11:50 AM, 11 October, Dhanur Lagna) is as reported, and the Jamboo Savari floral tribute (4:10–4:35 PM, 21 October, Meena Lagna) is the official muhurat. The day-by-day sections describe what typically happens at Mysore Dasara; the howdah elephant, Gold Card prices, chief guest and air and drone show dates are still awaited, and organisers are still publishing 2026 flyers; we will update this guide.

Related guides

• Mysore Dasara 2026 visitor guide
• Dasara 2026 Karnataka, district wise
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: the complete guide
• Navarathri 2026 Tamil Nadu, district wise
• Sharad Navratri to Dussehra 2026
• Navratri 2026: the NRI and diaspora guide
• October 2026 Hindu festival calendar