CMO Karnataka Hails Mysore Dasara 2026 as Festival of Art
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka marked Mysore Dasara 2026 — officially called Nadahabba — with a tribute hailing it as 'the glory of art and the celebration of culture', as the historic 10-day festival unfolds in Mysuru.
Key Takeaways
The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka posted a tribute to Mysore Dasara 2026 on 21 October 2026 .
The festival is known as Nadahabba in Kannada and is officially recognised as Karnataka's state festival .
The CMO framed it as 'ಕಲೆಯ ವೈಭವ - ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಉತ್ಸವ' — 'the glory of art, the celebration of culture'.
Mysore Dasara is a 10-day celebration held annually in Mysuru , featuring processions, classical performances, and folk arts.
Karnataka has organised Dasara without interruption under successive governments, using it to promote regional heritage and support local artists.
Colour, ceremony, and centuries of tradition — Mysore Dasara 2026 is being celebrated once again as Karnataka's grandest cultural moment. The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka marked the occasion on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, sharing a tribute to the festival that Kannadigas proudly call Nadahabba — the state festival.
The post carried the tagline 'ಕಲೆಯ ವೈಭವ - ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ಉತ್ಸವ' — 'The glory of art, the celebration of culture' — framing Mysuru Dasara 2026 not merely as a public event but as an affirmation of Karnataka's living artistic heritage.
Mysuru's Nadahabba: A Tradition That Never Dims
Mysore Dasara, officially recognised as Karnataka's state festival, is a 10-day celebration rooted in the region's royal and spiritual history. Held in Mysuru — the city of palaces — it marks the victory of good over evil through illuminated processions, classical performances, folk arts, and the iconic Jamboo Savari elephant pageant.
Successive Karnataka governments have continued the festival without interruption in modern times, treating it as both a cultural anchor and a showcase for the state's artistic communities. Artists, craftspeople, and performers from across Karnataka and beyond converge on Mysuru each year, making the event a living platform for regional heritage.
Culture as Karnataka's Calling Card
Karnataka routinely deploys its festival calendar — with Dasara at the centre — to promote regional identity, draw domestic and international visitors, and support local artisans and performing-arts troupes. The 2026 edition continues that tradition, with the CMO's message underscoring the twin pillars the state frames Dasara around: artistic grandeur and cultural pride.
For Mysuru residents, the festival is both spectacle and heritage — something felt as much as watched. The city's famed illuminated palace alone draws enormous crowds every edition, and the broader ten-day programme gives Karnataka's diverse art forms a national stage.
As the celebration unfolds, the eyes of Karnataka — and of travellers across India and beyond — will be fixed on Mysuru, the city that turns the idea of a state festival into something truly unforgettable.
Point of View
Arriving mid-festival, is both a celebration and a statement of stewardship.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mysore Dasara and why is it called Nadahabba?
Mysore Dasara is a 10-day annual festival held in Mysuru, Karnataka, marking the victory of good over evil. It is officially called Nadahabba — meaning 'state festival' in Kannada — and is Karnataka's most prominent cultural celebration.
When is Mysore Dasara 2026 being celebrated?
Mysore Dasara 2026 is being celebrated in October 2026, with the Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka posting a tribute on 21 October 2026.
What happens during Mysore Dasara?
The festival features illuminated palace displays, the iconic Jamboo Savari elephant procession, classical music and dance performances, folk arts, and cultural exhibitions spread across 10 days in Mysuru.
Which government body organises Mysore Dasara?
Mysore Dasara is organised under the Karnataka state government, which officially recognises it as the state festival. Successive governments have continued the celebration without interruption in modern times.
Why is Mysuru famous for Dasara celebrations?
Mysuru is the historic seat of the Wadiyar royal dynasty and home to the iconic illuminated Mysore Palace. The city's royal heritage and infrastructure make it the natural and traditional venue for Karnataka's grandest annual festival.
