Mysuru Dasara lighting ended on Sunday night after illuminating 146 km of roads, 123 traffic circles and more than 80 public installations across the city, drawing large crowds of residents and tourists and causing traffic congestion around key roads and junctions.
The lighting programme, organised by the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) as part of Mysuru Dasara, officially opened on October 11 and continued for 21 days. It was extended through Sunday because of Kannada Rajyotsava, allowing visitors to see the displays after the main Dasara celebrations had concluded.
The decorations covered roads and public spaces around the Ambavilas Palace, including New Sayyaji Rao Road, Irwin Road, Albert Victor Road, JLB Road, Chamaraja Double Road, Vinoba Road, the road opposite the Zilla Panchayat office, the road near the city police commissioner’s office and Devaraja Urs Road. Major highways on the outskirts of the city were also illuminated.
The programme included 51 illuminated welcome arches at city entry points and replicas and artistic installations at locations including Dodda Gadiyara Maidan, K.R. Circle, Chamaraja Circle, Jayachamaraja Circle, Ramaswamy Circle, the area near the railway station, Gun House Circle and LIC Circle. A lighting installation depicting Arjuna and Krishna’s chariot at Millennium, or LIC, Circle was among the attractions that drew visitors.
The expanded coverage increased activity around the palace and other major viewing points, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays. The large visitor presence led to congestion on important roads and at traffic circles. Tourists continued to visit despite the traffic delays, taking photographs and selfies of the displays.
The lighting also became part of the city’s wider tourism experience. Visitors watched the displays from the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation’s Ambari double-decker bus and from tongas. Some young visitors arrived with a bullock cart, which was described as a special feature during this year’s viewing period.
The displays were widely shared through videos and reels on social media, encouraging more visitors to travel to Mysuru to see the installations in person. The programme therefore extended the festival-related visitor activity beyond the formal Dasara events and helped maintain tourist interest in the city after the festival ended.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar viewed the lighting with members of his Cabinet and expressed appreciation, according to the report. Siddalinga Swamiji of the Siddaganga Math in Tumakuru and other religious leaders also visited the displays in the days before their closure.
With the Sunday-night closure, the temporary lighting programme has ended after its extended run. The traffic congestion, visitor movement and use of roads around the palace and major circles underline the operational pressures created when a city-wide public attraction draws large crowds across multiple urban corridors.
