Mysuru Dasara management is facing calls for reform after Mysuru MP and royal family scion Yaduveer Wadiyar flagged shortcomings in pass distribution, security arrangements and coordination with festival stakeholders. Wadiyar said the festival had been successful to an extent but required corrective action to make access systems more transparent and security checks more sensitive.
He said passes for Dasara events should be distributed transparently and limited according to the seating capacity of each venue. As possible solutions, he suggested an online distribution system or handing the process to an independent agency.
Wadiyar also condemned the reported checking of a four-year-old child at a venue, saying security arrangements needed to be implemented with greater sensitivity. He said police personnel deployed from outside Mysuru might not always be familiar with the city’s traditions or the specific requirements of the Dasara festival.
The MP called for proper orientation of security personnel and clear instructions on entry protocols for journalists, invited guests and other stakeholders. He also sought meetings with stakeholders before the festival so that security checks, pass distribution and entry arrangements could be discussed and standardised in advance.
The comments place festival access and crowd-management systems at the centre of the annual event’s administration. Dasara venues bring together residents, visitors, officials, performers, media personnel and invited guests, making the management of limited seating and multiple entry categories a recurring administrative challenge.
Wadiyar said his comments were not intended merely as opposition to the arrangements. “Every year, we raise these issues and suggest improvements. When we are in a position of responsibility, we too will have to address these shortcomings. Criticism alone is not enough; corrective action is necessary,” he said.
The call for reforms does not represent an announced change in the Dasara management system. The next step sought by Wadiyar is consultation among authorities and stakeholders to establish clearer procedures before future editions of the festival.
