Spectacular royal Dasara celebrations in Mysore; elephant procession

Mysore Dasara is Karnataka's Nadahabba (state festival), a ten-day royal celebration that culminates on Vijayadashami in the city of Mysuru. The city takes its name from Mahishasura, the buffalo-demon, and legend holds that Goddess Chamundeshwari slew him on the hill that now bears her name, Chamundi Betta, where her temple stands. The festival descends from the Mahanavami celebrations of the Vijayanagara Empire, and was taken up by the Wadiyar kings, beginning with Raja Wadiyar I at Srirangapatna in 1610. Dasara opens on Pratipada with the lighting of the lamp before the Goddess at Chamundi Hills; through the nine days the Mysore Palace is lit each evening by nearly a hundred thousand bulbs, and the royal family holds a private durbar on the golden throne. On Navami the royal weapons are worshipped in Ayudha Puja. On Vijayadashami comes the Jamboo Savari: the idol of Chamundeshwari is carried through the city in a golden howdah of about 750 kilograms on a caparisoned lead elephant, followed by decorated elephants, tableaux, folk troupes and bands, and the festival closes with the torchlight parade at Bannimantap.

No fast is required; many devotees break their Navratri fast today.