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, attracting large crowds while causing congestion around the palace and other major routes.
The lighting, arranged by the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation for the state’s well-known Dasara celebrations, 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 festivities had concluded.
Residents and tourists gathered after dark to view the illuminated roads, junctions and replicas. Many recorded photographs, videos and reels for social media, while others travelled to Mysuru after seeing images of the displays online. The increased visitor movement contributed to traffic jams on major roads and at key junctions, particularly around the areas surrounding the Ambavilas Palace.
The lighting covered roads and public spaces across central Mysuru, including New Sayyaji Rao Road, Irwin Road, Albert Victor Road, JLB Road, Chamaraja Double Road, Vinoba Road, the road near the Zilla Panchayat office, the road outside the city police commissioner’s office and Devaraja Urs Road. Major highways on the outskirts were also decorated.
A total of 51 illuminated welcome arches were installed at city entry points. Displays were set up at locations including Doddakere Maidan, KR Circle, Chamaraja Circle, Jayachamaraja Circle, Ramaswamy Circle, the area near the railway station, Gun House Circle and LIC Circle. One of the prominent attractions was a lighting installation depicting Arjuna and Krishna’s chariot at Millennium, or LIC, Circle.
The arrangements were more extensive than in previous years, with additional roads and junctions receiving illuminated canopies. Visitors used the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation’s Ambari double-decker bus and traditional tonga rides to view the decorations. Some young visitors also arrived with bullock carts, which became a notable feature of this year’s public viewing.
The crowds brought a visible tourism boost after the conclusion of Dasara. At the same time, the concentration of visitors around decorated junctions and the palace precinct highlighted the operational challenge of managing large seasonal gatherings in a city whose key roads also carry regular local traffic.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar viewed the lighting with cabinet colleagues and expressed appreciation, while Siddalinga Swamiji of the Siddaganga Mutt and other religious leaders also visited the displays. With the extended lighting schedule now complete, the city’s Dasara illumination programme has come to an end.
