Mysuru Dasara opens as Karnataka confirms Kambala races

Public Dasara celebrations opened on Chamundi Hills in Mysuru on October 11. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar confirmed that traditional Kambala buffalo races would be included for the first time.

Abhinava Gavi Siddeshwara Swami of Gavi Mutt inaugurated the festival. Speaking afterwards, Shivakumar said the 11-day celebrations would present the country's culture and heritage to visitors from India and abroad.

The chief minister defended the decision to stage Kambala despite objections from some quarters. He linked the practice to the Vijayanagara period, when, he said, buffaloes were brought to Dasara.

The official programme schedules the races for October 18 and 19 at a track near the Visvesvaraya Technological University college in Mysuru.

Shivakumar said contingents from the Army, Navy and Air Force would participate in the festival. He also announced a display by the Surya Kiran aerobatic team and thanked Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for supporting the armed forces' involvement.

He described Dasara as a public festival that had evolved beyond its royal origins. Shivakumar said the Wadiyar dynasty developed it into a platform for art and culture, while traditional dance and theatre continued to preserve Karnataka's heritage.

The chief minister also praised the social work of religious institutions and expressed respect for their leaders. The public inauguration on Chamundi Hills formed part of the opening festivities, which run until October 21 under the official calendar.