Karnataka's most beloved state festival is about to get its official curtain-raiser — and this year, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has chosen a voice from the north of the state to open the grandest celebration in the south. The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka announced on Friday, September 25, 2026, that Param Pujya Shri Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji of the Gavi Matha, Koppal, will inaugurate this year's Mysore Dasara — Karnataka's Nadahabba, or state festival.

Gavi Matha of Koppal steps into Mysuru's spotlight

The Gavi Matha is one of the most historically significant Veerashaiva-Lingayat monasteries in Koppal district, northern Karnataka, wielding deep spiritual and social influence across the region. Its current pontiff, Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji, is a widely revered figure within the Lingayat community — Karnataka's single largest religious constituency. By inviting him to inaugurate the Dasara, the state government is extending the festival's symbolic reach well beyond the royal city of Mysuru.

Why the choice of inaugurator carries political and cultural weight

Mysore Dasara, officially designated Nadahabba — 'festival of the land' — is Karnataka's premier cultural showcase, centred on the luminous Mysuru Palace and culminating in the iconic Jumbo Savari elephant procession. Every year, the state government's selection of the festival's inaugurator is a closely watched decision: it signals which religious traditions and geographic regions the ruling dispensation is choosing to spotlight.

This year's pick reflects a deliberate balancing act — honouring the royal Mysuru tradition that anchors the festival while inviting spiritual leadership from northern Karnataka, a region whose communities have historically sought greater recognition from a government headquartered in the south. It is a gesture that speaks in the language of inclusion.

What the festival means for Karnataka

Dasara in Mysuru draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and is one of India's most photographed ten-day festivals. The official programme includes cultural performances, the illumination of Mysuru Palace, sports events, and the grand procession on Vijayadashami. With CM Shivakumar personally announcing the inauguration honour, the Congress-led state government is signalling a high-profile, inclusive edition of the festival in 2026.

When the Mahaswamiji of Gavi Matha lights the ceremonial lamp in Mysuru, two of Karnataka's most distinct worlds — the Veerashaiva heartland of the north and the Wodeyar-legacy cultural capital of the south — will meet in a single, public gesture of unity.