Day by day
The schedule
Eleven days, from the inauguration on Chamundi Hill to the Torchlight Parade at Bannimantap — every programme, venue and time as announced by the sub-committees. Times are IST; the Palace rituals follow the panchanga muhurtas.
Official document
Dasara 2026 — full programme chart
11 – 21 October 2026
Before the festival
| Dates | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug | Gaja Payana — the elephants are flagged off (10:01 AM, Tula lagna) | Veeranahosahalli, Nagarhole |
| 28 Aug | The elephants enter the Palace — Gaja Puja (9:52 AM) | Amba Vilas Palace |
| 21 – 30 Sep | Lalithakale & Karakushala Kale — sand-casting, mural and printmaking workshops | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 28 Sep – 5 Oct | Yuva Sambhrama, 5 – 10 PM | Manasagangothri Open Air Theatre |
11 Oct Sun · Prathama · Shailaputri
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Flower Show opens (till 21 Oct, 9 AM – 9 PM) | Kuppanna Park |
| 09:00 | Dasara CM Cup 2026 — sports, day 1 of 4 (28 disciplines) | Chamundi Vihar & university stadia |
| 11:00 | Aahara Mela opens (till 25 Oct, 11 AM – 10 PM) | Maharaja's College Ground |
| 11:50 | Inauguration of Mysuru Dasara 2026 — Chamundeshwari puja (11:50 AM – 12:13 PM, Dhanur lagna) | Chamundeshwari Temple, Chamundi Hill |
| 16:00 | Lalithakale & Karakushala Kale — inauguration; state-level art competition & exhibition opens (till 24 Oct) | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 17:00 | Cultural programmes — inaugural evening (Palace stage, evenings through the festival) | Amba Vilas Palace stage |
| 18:30 | Inauguration of the Dasara illumination (Deepalankara) by the Minister for Energy | Sayyaji Rao Road, near K.R. Hospital Circle |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination — first evening of 2026 | Amba Vilas Palace |
12 Oct Mon · Dwitiya · Brahmacharini
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Dasara CM Cup 2026 — sports, day 2 of 4 (28 disciplines) | Chamundi Vihar & university stadia |
| 14:00 | Animation film show — Lalithakale & Karakushala Kale | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 17:00 | Cultural programmes — Lalithakale & Karakushala Kale | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination | Amba Vilas Palace |
13 Oct Tue · Tritiya · Chandraghanta
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 07:30 | Mahila & Makkala Dasara — rangoli competition (7:30 – 9:30 AM) | Amba Vilas Palace premises |
| 09:00 | Dasara CM Cup 2026 — sports, day 3 of 4 (28 disciplines) | Chamundi Vihar & university stadia |
| 09:00 | Yoga Dasara 2026 — inauguration and dance-drama (9 AM – 8 PM) | Alumni Association hall, Manasagangotri |
| 10:30 | Mahila & Makkala Dasara — inauguration; dollu kunita, kamsale, bharatanatyam, awareness skit, SHG stalls | J.K. Grounds |
| 11:00 | On-the-spot drawing (classes 1–4, 9–12) and clay-art (classes 5–8) competitions | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 14:00 | Animation film show — Lalithakale & Karakushala Kale | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 17:00 | Cultural programmes — Lalithakale & Karakushala Kale | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination | Amba Vilas Palace |
14 Oct Wed · Chaturthi · Kushmanda
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Dasara CM Cup 2026 — sports, day 4 of 4 (28 disciplines) | Chamundi Vihar & university stadia |
| 10:30 | Mahila & Makkala Dasara — mother-and-child fashion show, folk dances, ragi-mudde contest | J.K. Grounds |
| 14:00 | Animation film show — Lalithakale & Karakushala Kale | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 16:00 | Lalithakale & Karakushala Kale — prize distribution | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 17:00 | Cultural programmes — Lalithakale & Karakushala Kale | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination | Amba Vilas Palace |
15 Oct Thu · Panchami · Skandamata
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30 | Women's cultural walkathon “Karnataka's glory”; programmes by special children; comedy show | Kote Anjaneya temple → J.K. Grounds |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination | Amba Vilas Palace |
16 Oct Fri · Shashthi · Katyayani
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Raitha Dasara — procession of bullock carts and farm machinery; inauguration | Kote Anjaneya temple → J.K. Grounds |
| 10:30 | Mahila & Makkala Dasara — senior citizens & transgender programmes; valedictory and prizes | J.K. Grounds |
| 11:00 | Raitha Dasara — inauguration of the agricultural exhibition | J.K. Grounds |
| 11:15 | Raitha Dasara — stage programme and felicitation of progressive farmers | Alumni Association hall, Manasagangotri |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination | Amba Vilas Palace |
17 Oct Sat · Saptami · Siddhidhatri
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 06:30 | Raitha Dasara — state-level milk-yielding competition | J.K. Grounds |
| 08:00 | Yoga Dasara — state-level Yogasana competition (8 AM – 6 PM) | P. Kalinga Rao hall, Karnataka Exhibition Authority |
| 18:30 | Raitha Dasara — prize distribution, milk-yielding competition | J.K. Grounds |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination | Amba Vilas Palace |
| 20:00 | Drone show — inauguration and first display | Panjina Kavayathu ground, Bannimantap |
18 Oct Sun · Ashtami · Durgashtami
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | Rural Yoga Dasara (6 – 9 AM) | Government Boys PU College ground, Nanjangud |
| 09:00 | Kambala — day 1 | Kambala track near VTU College |
| 10:00 | Raitha Dasara — pet animals show | J.K. Grounds |
| 10:00 | Kalajathre — exhibition and sale of works by CAVA alumni (all day) | CAVA, Siddarthanagar |
| 17:30 | Raitha Dasara — prize distribution, pet animals show | J.K. Grounds |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination | Amba Vilas Palace |
| 20:00 | Drone show | Panjina Kavayathu ground, Bannimantap |
19 Oct Mon · Ashtami · Durga puja
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Yoga Charana (8 AM – 6 PM) | Chamundi Hill steps and temple premises |
| 09:00 | Kambala — day 2 | Kambala track near VTU College |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination | Amba Vilas Palace |
20 Oct Tue · Navami · Mahagauri
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Mahanavami — Ayudha puja, Gaja-Ashva puja, Hayagriva puja, Amaladevata puja (timings as per the Palace) | Amba Vilas Palace |
| 19:00 | Panjina Kavayathu (Torchlight Parade) — first evening | Bannimantap Ground |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination | Amba Vilas Palace |
| 20:00 | Drone show | Panjina Kavayathu ground, Bannimantap |
21 Oct Wed · Dashami · Vijayadashami
| Time | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 13:36 | Nandi Dhwaja puja by the Hon'ble Chief Minister (1:36 – 1:56 PM, Makara lagna) | Amba Vilas Palace |
| 16:10 | Pushparchane to Goddess Chamundeshwari in the golden howdah (4:10 – 4:35 PM, Meena lagna) | Amba Vilas Palace |
| 16:35 | JUMBOO SAVARI — the grand procession leaves the Palace | Palace → Bannimantap |
| 19:00 | Panjina Kavayathu (Torchlight Parade) — the closing act | Bannimantap Ground |
| 19:00 | Palace illumination — till midnight | Amba Vilas Palace |
| 20:00 | Drone show | Panjina Kavayathu ground, Bannimantap |
After the finale
| Dates | Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Oct | The elephants’ return journey (10:45 AM, Dhanur lagna) | Palace → Veeranahosahalli |
| 24 Oct | Chamundeshwari Rathotsava | Chamundi Hill |
| till 24 Oct | State-level art exhibition | CAVA |
| till 25 Oct | Aahara Mela | Maharaja’s College Ground |
Compiled from the official programme poster, the Palace panchanga and the sub-committee circulars received on 15 September 2026. Times are IST; the cultural stages and the Dasara Exhibition are listed as announced separately.
Source: Compiled from the official programme poster and the sub-committee circularsOriginal document
Official document
Sharannavaratri puja calendar & Gaja Puja dates
11 – 24 October 2026
Sharannavaratri 2026 — the Palace calendar
| Date | Tithi | Devi / observance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 OctSun | Prathama | Shailaputri | Sharannavaratri begins — Shaila vrata. Chamundeshwari puja on Chamundi Hill 11:50 AM – 12:13 PM (Dhanur lagna); Palace puja; private pujas in the evening. |
| 12 OctMon | Dwitiya | Brahmacharini | — |
| 13 OctTue | Tritiya | Chandraghanta | — |
| 14 OctWed | Chaturthi | Kushmanda | — |
| 15 OctThu | Panchami | Skandamata | — |
| 16 OctFri | Shashthi | Katyayani | Saraswati puja (begins in Moola nakshatra). |
| 17 OctSat | Saptami | Siddhidhatri | Kalaratri — Mahishasura samhara. |
| 18 OctSun | Ashtami | Durgashtami | — |
| 19 OctMon | Ashtami | Durga puja | — |
| 20 OctTue | Navami | Mahagauri | Mahanavami — Ayudha puja, Gaja-Ashva-adi (elephant & horse) puja, Hayagriva puja, Amaladevata puja. |
| 21 OctWed | Dashami | Vijayadashami | Shami puja, Aparajita Devi puja. Nandi Dhwaja puja by the Hon’ble Chief Minister 1:36 – 1:56 PM (Makara lagna, Budha hora); Pushparchane by the Chief Minister and dignitaries 4:10 – 4:35 PM (Meena lagna); then the Jumboo Savari begins. |
| 24 OctSat | — | Chamundeshwari Rathotsava | Chariot festival at the Chamundeshwari temple, Chamundi Hill. |
Vijayadashami, 21 October — muhurtas
| Time | Ceremony | Lagna |
|---|---|---|
| 1:36 – 1:56 PM | Nandi Dhwaja puja by the Hon’ble Chief Minister | Makara lagna · Budha hora |
| 4:10 – 4:35 PM | Pushparchane to Goddess Chamundeshwari in the golden howdah by the Chief Minister and dignitaries | Meena lagna |
| After 4:35 PM | Jumboo Savari — the procession leaves the Palace for Bannimantap | — |
Gaja Puja dates
| Date | Event | Muhurta |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug 2026Wed | Gaja Payana begins — the elephants are flagged off from Veeranahosahalli, Nagarhole | 10:01 – 10:28 AM · Tula lagna |
| 28 Aug 2026Fri | The elephants enter the Mysuru Palace — Gaja Puja at the Palace | 9:52 – 10:19 AM |
| 22 Oct 2026Thu | Return journey — Mysuru Palace to Veeranahosahalli | 10:45 AM – 12:11 PM · Dhanur lagna |
Based on the Mysuru Palace, Ontikoppal and Melukote panchangas. All times IST.
Source: Mysuru Palace panchanga (Palace, Ontikoppal & Melukote almanacs)Original document
