Mysuru gears up for grand Vijayadashami procession, marking culmination of Dasara festivities
Mysuru (PTI): The city of palaces is set for a spectacular Vijayadashami procession on Thursday, marking the grand finale of the 11-day iconic ‘Mysuru Dasara’ celebrations.
Celebrated as ‘Nada Habba’ (state festival), the Dasara or ‘Sharana Navaratri’ festivities this year have been a grand affair, showcasing Karnataka’s rich culture and traditions in royal pomp and glory.
Thousands of people are expected to witness the ‘Jamboo Savari’—a march of a dozen caparisoned elephants led by ‘Abhimanyu’, carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru, on a 750-kg golden howdah or 'Ambari'.
The grand procession will begin with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah offering pooja to the Nandi flag between 1 pm and 1.18 pm during the auspicious “Dhanur Lagna” at the Balarama Gate of the majestic Amba Vilas Palace.
The procession, comprising cultural groups and tableaux from various districts depicting Karnataka’s heritage, will cover about five kilometres before culminating at Bannimantapa. Tableaux from government departments showcasing schemes, programmes and social messages will also be there. Large crowds are expected along the route hours before it begins.
The chief minister and dignitaries, including scion of erstwhile Mysuru royals, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, will flag off the procession by showering flowers on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari during the auspicious 'Kumbha Lagna' between 4.42 pm and 5.06 pm.
Twenty-one cannon shots will mark the arrival of Abhimanyu, flanked by ‘Kumki’ elephants, and dignitaries will offer flowers from a specially set-up dais.
The Dasara procession on Vijayadashami symbolises the victory of good over evil. Historically, the king rode in the howdah, accompanied by his brother and nephew, with Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar being the last royal king of Mysuru to do so. Today, the tradition continues with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari carried in the 750-kg howdah — a wooden core covered with 80 kg of gold.
Police have made elaborate security and crowd management arrangements for the event, officials said.
At the palace, keeping tradition alive, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, dressed in regal attire, will lead the ‘Vijaya Yatra’ from Amba Vilas Palace to the Bhuvaneshwari Devi temple within the premises, where he will perform a special pooja to the ‘Shami’ tree on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Wadiyar performed the 'Ayudha Pooja' a ritual honouring the erstwhile royal family’s weapons, vehicles, and animals, including elephants, horses, and cows.
As part of the celebrations, the ‘Vajramushti Kalaga’ — a duel between wrestlers (‘Jetties’) armed with a knuckle-duster (‘Vajramushti’) — will be held at the palace, with participants from across the state.
During the ten days of Dasara, the palace, major streets, circles, and buildings of Mysuru were adorned with lights and this celebration of lights is called 'Deepalankaara'. Cultural programmes were held at various venues, alongside events such as the food mela, flower show, farmers’ Dasara, women’s Dasara, Yuva Dasara, children’s Dasara, and poetry recitals.
The Dasara airshow on Wednesday drew large crowds, while the torchlight parade at Bannimantap grounds on Thursday evening will see Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot as the chief guest.
The Navaratri celebrations at the palace included daily rituals, with Wadiyar conducting the ‘Khasagi Durbar’ (private durbar) seated on the golden throne amid chanting of Vedic hymns.
Dasara, celebrated by the Vijayanagar rulers, was inherited by the Wadiyars of Mysuru. Initiated in Mysuru by Raja Wadiyar I in 1610, it became a private affair after the abolition of the privy purse in 1971. The tradition continued as a low-key event until the state government revived grand Dasara celebrations in 1975 when D Devaraj Urs was the chief minister.
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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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