Mysore Dasara

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{{short description|State-festival of Karnataka, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Redirect|Jamboo Savari|the Indian film|Jamboo Savari (film)}}
{{Infobox holiday
|begins=September/October per [[Hindu calendar]]
|ends=10 days later
|longtype=[[Culture of Mysore|Cultural]], Religious ([[Hindu]])
|type=Hindu
|nickname=
|image={{Photomontage
| photo1a = Mysore palace illuminated.jpg
| photo2a = Dasara_in_Mysore.jpg
| photo2b = Mysore Palace Dussera (29633564994).jpg
| spacing = 1
| color_border = white
| color = white
| size = 270
| foot_montage = }}
|duration=09 days
|caption=(Top to bottom, L-R) [[Mysore Palace]] illuminated during the festival, procession of Goddess [[Chamundeshwari]]'s idol, elephant procession on [[Vijayadashami]]
|frequency=Annual
|significance=Marking the victory of good over evil
|relatedto=[[Devi]] (goddess Shakti), [[Ramayana|The Ramayana]], the [[Vijayanagara Empire]], the [[Kingdom of Mysore]], the [[Wadiyar dynasty]]
|firsttime=17–27 September 1610
|celebrations=lighting Mysuru Palace, Ramayana theatre, mela (fairs), processions and parades}}
{{Mysore Kingdom series}}
'''Mysore Dasara''' is the ''Nadahabba'' (state festival) of the state of [[Karnataka]] in [[India]]. It is a 10-day festival, starting with nine nights called [[Navaratri]] and the last day being [[Vijayadashami]]. The festival is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of ''Ashvina'', which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October.{{sfn | Encyclopedia Britannica | 2015}}{{sfn|James G. Lochtefeld|2002|pp=212-213, 468-469}}{{sfn | Encyclopedia Britannica Dussehra | 2015}}

The Hindu festival of Dasara, Navratri and [[Vijayadashami]] celebrates the victory of good over evil. It was the day in the Hindu legends when Goddess [[Durga|Chamundeshwari]] (Durga) killed the demon [[Mahishasura]].<ref name="Fuller2004p117"/> Mahishasura is the demon whose slaying by the Goddess gave the city the name [[Mysuru]]. The Mysuru tradition celebrates the warriors and the state fighting for the good during this festival, ritually worshipping and displaying the state sword, weapons, elephants, horses along with Hindu [[Devi]] goddess in her warrior form (predominantly) as well as the Vishnu avatar [[Rama]]. The ceremonies and a major procession is traditionally presided by the king of Mysuru.<ref name="Fuller2004p117">{{cite book|author=Christopher John Fuller|title=The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=To6XSeBUW3oC |year=2004|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=0-691-12048-X|pages=114–126}}</ref>

The city of Mysuru has a long tradition of celebrating the Dasara festival with grandeur and pomp to mark the festival. The Dasara festival in Mysuru completed 409th anniversary in the year 2019,<ref name="anniversary">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-07/bangalore/28256260_1_jumboo-savari-dasara-elephants-theatre-festival|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106231912/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-07/bangalore/28256260_1_jumboo-savari-dasara-elephants-theatre-festival|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-11-06|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=400th Mysore Dasara begins today|date=2010-10-07}}</ref> while evidence suggests the festivities were observed in Karnataka state by the Vijayanagara Empire kings in the 15th century.<ref>[http://www.newsonair.nic.in/Karnataka-Mysore-Dasara-feature.asp Dasara of Mysore] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616050121/http://www.newsonair.nic.in/Karnataka-Mysore-Dasara-feature.asp |date=16 June 2018 }}, All India Radio, Government of India</ref>

==History==
The Dasara festivities began with the [[Vijayanagar dynasty|Vijayanagar kings]] as early as the 14th-15th Century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourkarnataka.com/Articles/starofmysore/500yrs.htm|title=WebHost4Life - Web Hosting, Unix Hosting, E-Mail, Web Design|website=ourkarnataka.com|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref> The festival played a historical role in the 14th-century [[Vijayanagara Empire]], where it was called ''Mahanavami'' and the festivities are shown in the relief artwork of the outer wall of the Hazara Rama temple of [[Hampi]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=John M. Fritz|author2=George Michell|author3=John Gollings|title =Hampi |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=gl5NAAAAYAAJ|year =2003|publisher=India Book House|pages=46–47, 87–90|isbn=9788175083363}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=P. J. Marshall|title=The Eighteenth Century in Indian History: Evolution Or Revolution?|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=WT1uAAAAMAAJ|year =2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-567814-7|pages=285 note 3}}</ref>

The Italian traveller [[Niccolò de' Conti]] described the festival's intensity and importance as a grandeur religious and martial event with royal support. The event revered Durga as the warrior goddess (some texts refer to her as Chamundeshwari). The celebrations hosted athletic competitions, singing and dancing, fireworks, a pageantry military parade and charitable giving to the public.<ref name=fuller117>{{cite book |author=Christopher John Fuller| title=The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=To6XSeBUW3oC |year= 2004| publisher= Princeton University Press|isbn= 978-0-69112-04-85|pages= 117–119}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=S Sivapriyananda|title=Mysore Royal Dasara|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=DVkyFvZL_qMC |year =1995|publisher= Abhinav Publications|pages= 73–75 }}</ref>

After the fall of the Vijayanagar to Deccan Sultanates, these Hindu celebrations came to an end under Muslim rulers. The Wodeyars of [[Mysore]] formed a kingdom in Southern parts of the Vijayanagara Empire and continued the Mahanavami (Dasara) festival celebration, a tradition started initially by Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617 CE) in mid September 1610 at [[Srirangapatna]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Christopher John Fuller|title=The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=To6XSeBUW3oC |year=2004|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=0-691-12048-X|pages=114–115}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=P. J. Marshall|title=The Eighteenth Century in Indian History: Evolution Or Revolution?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WT1uAAAAMAAJ|year=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-567814-7|pages=268–270}}</ref>

==Festivities==
[[File:ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾ (Mysore Dasara) 2019 (2).webm|left|thumb|2019 Mysore Dasara]]
The festivities included a special ''durbar'' (royal assembly). It was during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in the year 1805, when the king started the tradition of having a special ''durbar'' in the [[Mysore Palace]] during Dasara; which was attended by members of the royal family, special invitees, officials and the masses. After the death of [[Srikanta Wadiyar]] in December 2013, this tradition has been continued by placing the "Pattada Katti" (royal sword) on the golden throne.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/emotional-start-to-private-dasara/article6447883.ece|title=Emotional start to private Dasara|author=R. Krishna Kumar|work=The Hindu|date=26 September 2014|access-date=22 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140926/nation-current-affairs/article/no-scion-sword-%E2%80%98rules%E2%80%99-mysore-palace|title=With no scion, the sword 'rules' at the Mysore Palace|date=26 September 2014|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/432803/archives.php|title=Royal Sword takes king's place at Khas Durbar|work=Deccan Herald|access-date=22 October 2015}}</ref> The ninth day of Dasara called as ''Mahanavami'' is also an auspicious day on which the royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a procession involving [[Dasara Elephants|elephants]], camels and horses.<ref name="esam">Detailed account of the Mysore Dasara festival is provided by {{cite web|work=[[Prabuddha Bharata]]|url=http://www.esamskriti.com/html/inside.asp?cat=441&subcat=440&cname=mysodasa|title=Mysore Dasara - A Living Tradition|publisher=Shri Sanjeev Nayyar|access-date=2007-04-04 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070307104723/http://www.esamskriti.com/html/inside.asp?cat=441&subcat=440&cname=mysodasa  |archive-date = 2007-03-07}}</ref>

[[File:Mysorepalace.jpg|thumb|left|A lit up [[Mysore Palace]], the epicenter of all Dasara festivities held in [[Mysore]]]]
{{Culture of Karnataka}}

==Lightings in Mysore Palace==
The main attraction of the ten-day Mysore Dasara festival is the [[Mysore Palace]] which is lighted daily with nearly 100,000 light bulbs from 7 pm to 10 pm on all days of the festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mysoredasara.org/about_dasara.html|title=Mysore Dasara, Nadahabba, Mysore Royal Festival, Karnataka State Festival|work=mysoredasara.org|access-date=22 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829015351/http://www.mysoredasara.org/about_dasara.html|archive-date=29 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Various cultural and religious programs highlighting the dance, music and culture of the State of [[Karnataka]] are performed in front of the illuminated Palace.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inmysore.com/mysore-dasara|title=Mysore Dasara|work=inMysore.com|access-date=22 October 2015}}</ref>

==Procession==

On [[Vijayadashami]], the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as ''Jumboo Savari'') is held on the streets of [[Mysore]] city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden [[mantapa]] (which is around 750 kilograms of gold) on the top of a decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the royal couple and other invitees before it is taken around in the procession. Colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the [[Mysore Palace]] and culminates at a place called ''Bannimantap'' where the ''banni'' tree (''[[Prosopis spicigera]]'') is worshipped. According to a legend of the [[Mahabharata]], ''banni'' tree was used by the [[Pandava]]s to hide their weapons during their one-year period of ''Agnatavasa'' (living life incognito). Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war.<ref name="esam" /> The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of [[Vijayadashami]] with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as ''Panjina Kavayatthu'' (torch-light parade).

In Mysore, India, the Vijayadashami Elephant procession during Mysore Dasara is called Jumbo Savari (from the British during their control of Mysore State). The original name to this procession is ''Jumbi Savari'' ("going to the Shami (Banni) tree"). Now Goddess Chamundeshwari is taken in procession on an Elephant. But the "Jumbo" name is still intact.

After the Jamboo Savari, a torchlight parade takes place in the evening at the Bannimantap Parade Grounds.

==Exhibition==
Another major attraction during Dasara is the Dasara exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds opposite to the [[Mysore Palace]]. The exhibition was started by the Maharaja of Mysore [[Chamaraja Wodeyar|Chamaraja Wodeyar X]] in 1880 with the sole aim of introducing timely developments to the people of Mysore. The task of holding the exhibition is now entrusted with the ''Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA)''.<ref>{{cite news|title=All roads lead to the expo|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/114895/all-roads-lead-expo.html|access-date=23 November 2010|newspaper=Deccan Herald}}</ref> This exhibition starts during Dasara and goes on till December. Various stalls which sell items like clothes, plastic items, kitchenware, cosmetics and eatables are set up and they attract a significant number of people. A play area containing attractions like a [[Ferris wheel]] is also present to provide entertainment to the people. Various Governmental agencies setup stalls to signify the achievements and projects that they have undertaken.

==Other programmes==
On all the 10 days of Dasara, various music and dance concerts are held in auditoriums around [[Mysore]] city. Musicians and dance groups from all over India are invited to perform on this occasion. Another attraction during Dasara is the [[Pehlwani|''Kusti Spardhe'']] (wrestling-bout) which attracts wrestlers from all around [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inmysore.com/mysore-dasara|title=Mysore Dasara - Wrestlers from around India participate in this tournament, which attracts a sizable audience.|website=inmysore.com}}</ref> There are other events at [[Bannimantap Parade Grounds|bannimantap]] where various groups do bike parades etc.

== Controversy ==
The Dasara procession has faced increasing pressure from activists and campaigners to end its controversial use of elephants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/peta-for-ban-on-elephants-during-dasara/articleshow/65332531.cms|title=PETA for ban on elephants during Dasara - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/using-elephants-for-dasara-procession-is-illegal-says-peta/articleshow/65344894.cms|title=Using elephants for Dasara procession is illegal, says PeTA - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-01-11}}</ref> Procession elephants, as well as their handlers known as 'mahouts', have died from several shocking incidents over the years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://starofmysore.com/untimely-death-of-mahout-shankara-elephant-gajendra-not-to-participate-in-this-years-dasara/|title=Untimely death of Mahout Shankara: Elephant Gajendra not to participate in this year's Dasara|date=2018-08-19|website=Star of Mysore|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/nation/2018/oct/09/rowdy-ranga-elephant-who-roamed-karnataka-forests-dies-in-tragic-mishap-101812.html|title='Rowdy' Ranga: Elephant who roamed Karnataka forests dies in tragic mishap|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2017/may/06/two-mahouts-killed-due-to-elephants-liquor-aversion-in-karnataka-1601627.html|title=Two mahouts killed due to elephant's liquor aversion in Karnataka?|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/karnataka/everything-you-want-to-know-about-the-dasara-elephants|title=Here is all you need to know about the Dasara elephants|website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd|access-date=2019-01-11}}</ref>

In 2018, leaked footage from the elephants' training ground showed an elephant swaying in distress. International press labelled the video "heartbreaking", and reported on how the elephants must undergo two months of "rigorous training" in order to perform in the procession.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.petaindia.com/blog/elephant-swaying-in-distress/|title=Elephant Swaying in Distress Shows Exploitation Must End|date=2018-10-17|website=PETA India|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Arjuna (elephant)|Arjuna]], the lead elephant of the Mysore Dasara procession
* [[Dasara (disambiguation)]] — uses of the term in other Indian states
* [[Dasara Elephants]]
* [[Mysore Dasara 2013]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin|30em}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PM_TNDu8NHUC|title=Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power|first=Laura|last=Amazzone|year= 2012|publisher=University Press of America|isbn=9780761853145|access-date=5 February 2017 }}
*{{cite book|last= Coburn|first= Thomas B.| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c7vIzNrC-coC |title= Encountering the Goddess: A translation of the Devi-Mahatmya and a Study of Its Interpretation| publisher= State University of New York Press | year= 1991 | isbn = 0791404463 }}
*{{cite book|author= Paul Reid-Bowen|editor1=Denise Cush|editor2=Catherine Robinson|editor3=Michael York|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kzPgCgAAQBAJ |year =2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-18979-2}}
*{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|author2=James D. Ryan|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC |year=2006|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5}}
*{{cite book | author=David Kinsley| title=Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition|url=https://archive.org/details/hindugoddessesvi0000kins| url-access=registration| year=1988| publisher=University of California Press| isbn=978-0-520-90883-3}}
*{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch |url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=0-8239-2287-1}}
*{{cite book|author= June McDaniel|title= Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=caeJpIj9SdkC |year= 2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-534713-5}}
*{{cite book|author=Rachel Fell McDermott|title=Mother of My Heart, Daughter of My Dreams: Kali and Uma in the Devotional Poetry of Bengal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2PrChFaXgf0C |year=2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-803071-3}}
*{{Cite book|first=Ludo |last=Rocher| year= 1986| author-link= Ludo Rocher| title= The Puranas| publisher= Otto Harrassowitz Verlag| isbn= 978-3447025225 }}
*{{cite book|author=Hillary Rodrigues|title=Ritual Worship of the Great Goddess: The Liturgy of the Durga Puja with Interpretations|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=onyaEhwhJBUC|year=2003|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-8844-7}}
*{{cite web | title=Navratri – Hindu festival | website=Encyclopædia Britannica | year=2017 | url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Navratri | ref={{sfnref | Encyclopedia Britannica | 2015}} | access-date=2017-02-21}}
*{{cite web | title=Dussehra – Hindu festival | website=Encyclopædia Britannica | year=2014 | url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dussehra | ref={{sfnref | Encyclopedia Britannica Dussehra | 2015}} | access-date=2017-02-21}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{commonscatinline}}
*{{Official website|http://www.mysoredasara.gov.in/ |name=Mysore Dasara Official Website <nowiki>|</nowiki> Complete information about Mysore Dasara}}
*[http://www.keaonline.in/ Official website of Karnataka Exhibition Authority]
*{{cite web |url=http://www.mysoredasara.gov.in/gallery |title=Mysore Dasara Gallery |work=mysoredasara.gov.in}}
*[http://www.newskarnataka.com/features/mysuru-dasara-the-mother-of-all-dasaras Mysuru Dasara, the mother of all Dasaras!]
*[http://www.newskarnataka.com/features/the-nava-durgas-of-dasara The Nava Durgas of Dasara]
*[https://www.karnatakatourism.org/destinations/mysuru-dasara Government of Karnataka Tourism Department about Dasara]
{{Mysore topics}}
{{Karnataka topics}}

[[Category:Culture of Mysore]]
[[Category:Festivals in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Mysore]]
[[Category:Animal festival or ritual]]
[[Category:Elephant festivals]]
[[Category:September observances]]
[[Category:October observances]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:1610 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1610]]

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Mysore Dasara