Karnataka celebrates ancient cultural and religious festivals

The state of Karnataka hosts several significant cultural and religious festivals, including the thousand-year-old Ravutaraya–Mallayya Jatrotsava and the Mysuru Dasara.

In the northern Karnataka town of Devara Hipparagi, the Ravutaraya–Mallayya Jatrotsava is a five-day tradition centered around the Ravutaraya and Mallayya temples. The festival involves sacred processions, the gathering of flowers, and a ritualistic divine wedding between deities.

In Mysuru, the Dasara festival, known as Nadahabba, celebrates the victory of Goddess Chamundeshwari over the demon Mahishasura. The 10-day event features palace illumination, cultural programs, and the Jamboo Savari. The Jamboo Savari is a grand procession from the Mysore Palace to Bannimantap Grounds, featuring 12 trained elephants, a golden throne, and various musical and dance troupes.