Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. God has said that Mysore Dussehra 2026 will be celebrated in a more grand manner. Chief Minister D.K. In the meeting chaired by Shivakumar, he said that this is a celebration of the heritage, culture and history of Karnataka.
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [भारत]July 10 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Friday said Mysore Dussehra, which symbolizes the heritage, culture and history of Karnataka, will be celebrated on a grander scale with elaborate preparations. He gave these suggestions to Chief Minister D.K. in the conference hall of the Assembly today. Shivakumar at a preliminary high-level meeting held to discuss the organization of ‘Naad Habba Mysore Dussehra Mahotsav – 2026’.
He said, “Mysore Dussehra is not just an annual festival, temple chariot procession or religious rituals. It is a celebration of the heritage, culture and history of Karnataka. Despite the drought-like situation in some parts of the state, all necessary arrangements should be made to celebrate our Naad Habba grandly and without any hindrance.”
Preservation of history and tradition
Recalling the history of the festival, he said that the Maharaja of Mysore once used to lead the procession sitting on a golden ‘howda’. Although such practices are no longer possible in a democratic system, the traditions of the state must be preserved and shown to future generations.
He mentioned that during the Vijayanagara Empire the festival was celebrated as Mahanavami, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and military victory. Later the Wadiyar dynasty of Mysore continued the tradition of Dussehra for about 400 years.
“There is no need to reduce the scale of the celebrations. The Chief Minister will take an appropriate decision in this regard,” he said.
Last year more than 25 lakh people came to Mysore to witness Dussehra. Parameshwara said that during his previous tenures as home minister, he regularly reviewed the security and administrative arrangements for the festival.
“Despite the large number of people coming here, no untoward incident took place last year. The district administration had made excellent arrangements with the cooperation of the elected representatives,” he said.
Emphasis on connecting youth and global promotion
He said, “Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has assumed charge with a new vision. There are about 1.9 crore youth in Karnataka aged between 16 to 30. We should introduce them to our heritage, culture and history. An exhibition showcasing the history of Mysore should be organised, while the city lights should reflect its rich cultural heritage.”
He called for more efforts to promote Mysore Dasara globally and attract domestic and international tourists. He said that proper facilities should be provided to foreign visitors and Karnataka’s heritage should be effectively presented to the world.
Dussehra Games and Youth Dussehra
Parameshwara also stressed the importance of successfully conducting Dussehra sports competitions. “Many players have gained recognition through the Dussehra games. Earlier, competitions used to start at the taluka level. Youth should be encouraged to participate and provided with more opportunities,” he said.
He said the Chief Minister has a vision to showcase Karnataka on a bigger and more vibrant platform. Therefore, Youth Dussehra should be organized in a more meaningful and attractive manner.
Extension of celebration to other districts
He said that the celebration of Dussehra should not be limited to Mysore only. Dussehra festivals are already organized in Chamarajanagar, Srirangapatna, Madikeri, Mangaluru and Tumakuru, and similar celebrations should be encouraged in other districts.
“These celebrations should showcase the unique culture, art and literature of each district and create greater awareness among the local communities,” he said.
Conservation of heritage buildings
Responding to concerns raised by MLAs about the preservation of Mysore’s heritage buildings, the Deputy Chief Minister said that historical structures have been carefully preserved in cities like Paris and Rome.
He directed, “Similar efforts should be made here also. The pending court cases should be taken forward and resolved at the earliest. Till then, the heritage buildings should not be allowed to deteriorate.”
He said, “Nowhere else in the country is Dussehra celebrated on such a grand and meaningful scale as it is in Mysore. Let us bring everyone together and celebrate this historic Naad Habba with even greater grandeur and better organization.” (ANI)
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